SKYLINE LOVER AFTER REDEMPTION AT
HIALEAH
Feb. 4, 2012 – Dan Frazier’s Skyline Lover chases
redemption in the $20,000 Key West Challenge Stakes over
1,000 yards on Sunday afternoon at Hialeah Park. He's
looking for redemption after having his previously
unblemished Hialeah win record dashed when he was
disqualified from the win in the Moonstone Stakes.
On January 12, Skyline Lover (Feature Mr Jess-Loves That
Gold by Royal Quick Dash) was after his seventh win from
seven starts at the South Florida track and he crossed
the finish line in the 660-yard Moonstone in first
place, 2 lengths ahead of Flyin Fish. However, the
gelding lugged in during the stretch run and was
disqualified and placed eighth as the 1-2 favorite.
That moved Flyin Fish (Fishers Dash-Jazzing Cheree by
Jazzing Hi) into the winner’s circle, and he is back in
the Key West for a rematch with Skyline Lover.
Trained by Matt Frazier, Skyline Lover has been
sensational in the Hialeah Park distance division and
has been the most accomplished American Quarter Horse to
compete at the historic track.
During the 2010-11 season, Skyline Lover won four stakes
from four starts at distances of 550 yards to 1,000
yards. He returned during the current season to continue
his winning streak, with wins in the 550-yard Orange
Blossom Stakes and the 660-yard Crystal River Stakes
before his disqualification in the Moonstone Stakes.
Double Eagle Ranch and Buena Suerte Equine’s Flyin Fish
has provided the biggest threat to Skyline Lover this
winter at Hialeah. He was a troubled sixth-place
finisher when he made his Hialeah debut in the Orange
Blossom Stakes and battled with Skyline Lover through
the stretch in the Crystal River Stakes before coming up
a head short at the wire.
The Richard Sedillo-trained Flyin Fish was then awarded
the win in the Moonstone Stakes after Skyline Lover was
disqualified for interference.
Before moving to Hialeah, Flyin Fish developed into a
stakes competitor in New Mexico. He qualified for the
$1.3 million All American Derby (G1) after finishing
second to eventual winner Llano Teller in their trial,
and then moved up to the distance ranks with a 6-length
win in a 870-yard Zia Park conditioned allowance race
and finished fourth at 3-2 odds in the Herman Jefferson
Stakes (G3).
Sedillo will also saddle Betty Marshall’s Absolve (Check
Him Out-Beat Your Pants Off by Six Fols) along with
Sheri Galvez and Betty Marshall’s Royal Initiative
(Royal Quick Dash-Fortuna Babe by Six Fortunes) in the
Key West.
Absolve comes off a win in the 660-yard
optional-claiming race while Royal Initiative was moved
up from third to second in the Moonstone Stakes
following Skyline Lover’s disqualification.
Also on Sunday’s Hialeah Park card, Mary Passmore’s Chi
Ter (Granite Lake-This Chicks Stylish by Chicks Beduino)
continues on the comeback trail in the $20,000 Sawgrass
Stakes over 440 yards.
The Jackie Kirby-trained Chi Ter makes his second start
after a seven-month layoff. His last race was a 440-yard
allowance win on December 30.
A year ago, he was the third-place finisher in the
$99,000 Hialeah Derby and then the 26-1 upset winner in
the $60,000 Hialeah Championship in an impressive :21.25
for the 440 yards.
The Ricardo Martinez-owned and -trained Sassy Shaelan
(Bono Jazz-Rsassy Sarah by Holland Ease) returns to the
stakes ranks after a game neck decision in a 300-yard
optional-claiming race. The mare battled to the win over
Color Me Bright with a :15.38 time for her first win
from three Hialeah starts.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA
publications. For more information on The American
Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA
Publications.
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