Racing


Trainer Mark Hanson Saddles Trifecta In Gary Blattner / Harold Pence Memorial Derby
Pocatello Downs hosted the Gary Blattner / Harold Pence Memorial Derby on Sunday's race card.

© Pocatello Downs
Trainer Mark Hanson Saddles Trifecta In Gary Blattner / Harold Pence Memorial Derby

POCATELLO, ID—MAY 21, 2017—Making his 3-year-old debut Sunday at Pocatello Downs, last year's Idaho Cup Futurity winner was never challenged when he defeated stablemate Nightly Fire by 1½ lengths in the $6,500 Gary Blattner / Harold Pence Memorial Derby (not black type). Jb Corona Heart finished half-a-length back in third to give trainer Mark Hanson a trifecta.

Ridden by jockey Eddie Aceves, A Cartel Hustle cruised over the 350 yards in a quick :17.372 clocking to earn a 110-speed index with a 12-mph tailwind. Hanson saddled the son of Favorite Cartel to his fourth career win in eight starts. The $3,380 Memorial derby winners' purse boosted his career earnings total to $28,576.

RTM Stables LLC, Larry Chapple and Dick Wasia own the Idaho-homebred gelding from the Feature Mr Jess mare Mothers Gift.

Hanson trains runner-up Nightly Fire, an Oklahoma-bred, for owner's RTM Stables LLC and George Weldon. Uriel Dominguez rode the Walk Thru Fire gelding out of Night Lines by Strawfly Special. Jaime Gomez is the breeder. Nightly Fire, winner of last year's Bitterroot Juvenile, earned $1,495 for the effort.

Hanson completed the trifecta when he sent out Jb Corona Heat, a stakes-placed son of Lovin This Corona, for owner's RTM Stables LLC and Ben McKinney. Jim Hanson and Ben McKinney bred the sorrel gelding in Utah from the Sixes Royal mare Pearl Heart. He picked up $748.

Smokin By Me and Smashed Down Dash completed the field. Duck Dash N Go was scratched.