 Tommie
Morelos / Coady Photography / story by Ty Wyant for SureBet
21 Partnership, Badilla Shine in West TX
Maturity Trials
Sunland PK., NM Feb. 10, 2012 - Owner 21 Partnership and trainer
Joe Badilla had only two horses in the trials to the $99,825 West
Texas Maturity, but their First Down Master and Zulu Dragon stood
out with the top-two qualifying times from the three 400-yard
trials.
First Down Master pulled away to win the second trial with the
fastest-qualifying time of :19.313 while Zulu Dragon scored in the
third trial with the second-fastest time of :19.335.
Rodrigo Aceves was aboard each of the trial winners.
First Down Master overcame a bobble at the start and then humbled
his rivals to win by one length while still expanding his advantage
at the finish line.
The son of First Down Dash and Dash Master Miss has shown potential
since winning his maiden in May at Ruidoso Downs, yet is still
trying for his first stakes win or placing. He qualified for the
Grade 1, $900,000 Rainbow Derby at Ruidoso Downs last summer and
took a conditioned allowance race three starts ago at Zia Park.
Zulu Dragon had more of a battle in his trial before racing to the
neck win over third-fastest qualifier Source Of Speed.
A son of First Down Dash and Hidden Dragon, Zulu Dragon took the La
Plata Stakes back in May at SunRay Park and was second in the Mr Jet
Moore Stakes at Ruidoso Downs through a disqualification.
The complete list of qualifiers to the West Texas Maturity on March
3 is First Down Master (:19.313), Zulu Dragon (:19.335), Source Of
Speed (:19.368), The Steel Wave (:19.376), First Corona Call
(:19.399), Kuhl Little Man (:19.424), Feature Mr Alliance (:19.448),
The Rebel Cartel (:19.518), Zoomin Express (:19.564) and Rare Waves
(:19.572).
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