GIORGINO, DASHINGFORDESTINY WIN TQHA SIRES’ CUP RACE
---------------------------------------------------------

In the more lucrative of the two stakes, Jorge Haddad scored a trifecta as the breeder, owner and trainer of Giorgino, who picked up his second graded stakes win with a neck victory over even-money favorite and fastest qualifier Executive Precision. The Texas-bred colt by Apollo (TB) posted a 99 speed index with a :17.563 clocking at 350 yards. J.R. Ramirez was in the saddle. "This win makes three in a row so I couldn't be happier right now," said Haddad. "He just keeps getting better and better with each race and J.R. does a good job with him."

Giorgino's win streak includes a victory in the John Deere East Juvenile Challenge (G3) at Delta Downs and a trial for the TQHA Sires’ Cup, which he won by 2 ¾ lengths with the third-fastest qualifying time. Giorgino, who has now earned $75,070, is out of the Grade 1-placed First Down Dash mare Las Alamitos, who is also the dam of 2009 Heritage Place Futurity (G1) winner Ragazzo, by Shazoom. Giorgino’s sire, Apollo (TB), has 23 American Quarter Horse stakes winners and the earners of more than $6.3 million. Executive Precision, a son of Executive Menace who was third in the Manor Downs Futurity (G1), dueled throughout and finished a clear second. Executive Menace also sired third-place finisher The Gray Menace.

In the TQHA Sires’ Cup Derby, Dashingfordestiny came through as the longest shot in the field at 20-1. The Mr Jess Perry filly broke well on the rail under Jose Alvarez and extended out to a half-length win in :19.879 for 400 yards. Bred and owned by Kirk Goodfellow and trained by Bobby Touchet, Dashingfordestiny finished fourth in her trial with the eighth-fastest time. She kicked off her career with a maiden win last May at Los Alamitos and then qualified to the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) before closing out her campaign with a pair of off-the-board finishes.

"She did much better tonight than she did in the trials so I’m very happy," said Alvarez. "Bobby came to me and asked me to ride her. I’m not sure what’s up next for her, but I hope to ride her again."

Now an earner of $56,001, Texas-bred Dashingfordestiny is out of the accomplished mare Dashing Phoebe, a 1983 daughter of Dash For Cash who won three Grade 1 stakes along with titles as AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Filly and Champion 3-Year-Old Filly. She has been equally successful as a broodmare with five stakes winners, topped by 2007 All American Futurity (G1) winner Heartswideopen. Dashingfordestiny is the 92nd stakes winner for Mr Jess Perry, whose son Feature Mr Jess sired Heartswideopen. Nancys Ocean, by Ocean Runaway, crossed the wire second with another runner by that sire, Ms Riptide, in third.

Nick your mare!

. TO A VESSELS THOROUGHBRED STALLION USING THE WERK NICK RATING - A PRODUCT OF WERK THOROUGHBRED CONSULTANTS INC.