HAY SHAKER IS TOO STRONG IN CLAIMING FUTURITY; GOES TO GOMEZ AFTER 18-WAY SHAKE

        Paul Jones, Thompson Racing Inc. and Robyn Gordon’s Hay Shaker dominated the second running of the $54,000 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity, flying out of the gate from post one and even after lugging out winning easily by a length in the 350-yard race on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

          Sired by the tremendous stallion Favorite Cartel and out of the unraced mare Bubblie, Hay Shaker covered the distance in a strong :17.867 while picking up his second win in six starts. Bred by Jones and Thompson Racing, Hay Shaker is from the family of the AQHA champion and millionaire Foose.

          “We really liked this horse growing up,” Terry Thompson said. “When he was born, we had high hopes for him. He really didn’t show too much in his first couple of races. He then ran in the second fastest qualifying time to (the Claiming Futurity) but it was a mediocre time. We took a shot in the final for $54,000 and we are pleased with the way he ran. It is bittersweet (to see him get claimed). Best of luck to the new connections. We hope they do well with him. He’s still part of our family. We raised him, we bred him, and Paul did a good job with him.”   

       Nine horses raced in the Claiming Futurity, an innovative concept race in which horses competed in trials without the worry for the connections of seeing their horse claimed out of the trials. However, once the finalists returned for the final, each of the runners could be claimed for a tag of $12,500. For the second year in a row trainer Felix Gonzalez decided not to enter a horse in the final after seeing the runner win a trial to the Claiming Futurity. In 2021, it was fastest qualifier El Tio Angel which Gonzalez decided not to risk losing him via a claim in the final. This year, it was Jess A Comet Ride.  Others, like the owners of Hay Shaker, decided to roll the dice in the final, in their case with success. In addition to Hay Shaker earning $23,760 for winning the Claiming Futurity, his connections also made $12,500 because of the gray gelding being claimed. Jesus Rios Ayala piloted Hay Shaker to victory in a time of :17.867   

        After the race, a large crowd gathered by the weight scales area at the edge of the walking ring grass hoping to witness the results of the claiming process following the race. A total of 39 claim slips were turned in for five horses, including 18 for the winner Hay Shaker. Jaime Gomez won the claim on Hay Shaker, who is eligible to race in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Golden State Million Futurity.

          Ed Allred’s Better Beware earned $9,180 for his runner-up effort in this race. Ridden by Jonathan Roman for trainer Scott Willoughby, he outdueled KR Bikini Bar by a head for second place. Four claim slips were placed on Better Beware with Sergio Morfin winning the claim. Ridden by Ruben Lozano for trainer Valentin Zamudio, KR Bikini Bar earned $6,480 for running third.

          The others claimed out of this race were Docs Best Woman, who after a nine-way shake went to Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas; Slam A Corona, who had four claims placed on him before going to new owner/trainer Valentin Zamudio; and Eternal Place, who also had four claims placed on him before going to trainer Jorge Farias.

          The complete order of finish to the Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity follows: Hay Shaker, Better Beware, Docs Best Woman, Slam A Corona, Eternal Place, All Forgotten, Stella Girl 47 and Skyline Jess.

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