As Blakley Simoneaux stepped to the herd on Flatlinee during the Cotton Stakes 4-Year-Old Non-Pro, she was just hoping she and the gelding would get a chance to show off his talents. If they won, that would be the icing on the cake. When it was all said and done, their 222 topped the scoreboard, giving them the Championship in the class. The pair banked $5,421 and also picked up the 4-Year-Old Gelding Non-Pro title, worth another $1,235.
“I always just pray that we have good, solid runs, but winning it is always our goal,” Simoneaux said. “A win will always mean a lot to me, especially on a horse that my husband has trained.”
Simoneaux and her family, including her grandfather, Joel Colgrove Sr., who owns Flatlinee, bred and raised the gelding, who has been special from the beginning. He is from Colgrove’s stallion CR Gotcha Covered’s first foal crop and out of Dual Catolena (by High Brow Cat), whose offspring have won nearly $750,000, according to EquiStat.
“I think what makes him special is the way he tries and his athletic ability to move the way he does,” Simoneaux said. “He is quirky, but that’s what makes him even more special.”
Simoneaux planned to keep showing the gelding and adding to his lifetime earnings. She thanked everyone who was involved in their success.
“I would like to thank my help that is always there each and every run — my husband, Chet; Cade Shepard for being in my corner picking my cows; and Austin Shepard and Sean Flynn for turning me around,” Simoneaux said. “I couldn’t do it without their help and support. And thank you especially to my family for allowing us to train and ride these amazing horses for them.”
Taking Reserve with a 218 were Nikki Vander Ark and Louiss Vuitton (Metallic Cat x Lou Lou Louise x Dual Smart Rey). The duo collected $4,435 for owner Marvin Vander Ark plus an additional $823 for the Gelding Reserve title.
All Rights Reserved. Copyright , Central Coast Communications, Inc.