Multiple stakes winner Captain On Takeoff winning the $19,000 Sonoita Ranchers Challenge on Saturday at the Santa Cruz County Fair.

© Gene Wilson & Associates

SONOITA, AZ—MAY 6, 2017— Quarter Horse racing resumed at the Santa Cruz County Fair track in Sonoita, Arizona this weekend, featuring the $19,000 Sonoita Ranchers Bonus Challenge on Saturday.

Captain On Takeoff ($4.40), the post-time favorite, broke on top from the eight post and won gate to wire in the 350-yard event for Challenge-enrolled 3-year-olds and up. Jockey Emilio Tapia and the 5-year-old Captain Courage gelding came home in 17.203 to earn a 112 speed index.

The winning connections of Captain On Take Off accept the Sonoita Ranchers Bonus Challenge stakes trophy Friday afternoon. © Gene Wilson & Associates

Bred in Texas by Burnett Ranches, Captain On Takeoff is by Captain Courage, out of Takeoff Royalty by First Down Dash. He is owned by Joel Merino Gamez and is trained by Charles Acosta.

Captain On Takeoff’s career began at Los Alamitos before he moved to New Mexico and Arizona as a 3-year-old. His multiple career stakes wins include the $17,500 Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise in November of 2016. He was second in last year’s running of the Sonoita Ranchers Challenge behind Corona Toast, who set the track record of 16.940 that day.

Second in this year’s running was Apollitical Boogie, a 3-year-old son of Apollitical Jess out of the Late to Bed mare Shakin Ana Dashin. Apollitical Boogie and jockey Rodolfo Arvizu made up ground to finish a neck behind the winner, earning a speed index of 111 and a time of 17.248.

Apollitical Boogie is trained by Eloy Mendoza and is owned and bred by Amado De La Riva. The Arizona-bred gelding exited a strong spring campaign at Turf Paradise in which he was third in the $41,277 AQRA President’s Open Spring Derby.

Captain On Takeoff’s stablemate Jess Wilson and jockey Luis Yescas completed the trifecta for owner Francisco Rivera-Martinez. Bred in California by Don Wilson, Jess Wilson is by Feature Mr Jess, out of Chicksadashin by Chicks Beduino. 8-year-old Jess Wilson most recently finished third in the $20,000 Piggin String Stakes at Rillito in March.

Also in the Sonoita Ranchers Challenge: Mr Jb Perry, Fitz, Wyreit and Cant Buy Love. Block N Tackle was scratched.