Ivan James dashes home in the Sam Houston Futurity.

© Coady Photography

Q-RACING JOURNAL—APRIL 28, 2015— Following true to trial form, Jorge Meraz’ homebred colt Ivan James bounced home in the $621,100 Sam Houston Futurity (G2), the richest edition of the race and the richest of the Sam Houston meet.

Now a perfect 2-for-2 with earnings of $250,240, the colt is surely hoping to repeat seasons had by past winners such as last year’s champion 2-year-old Kiss My Hocks ($692,380), who went on to win the Ruidoso Futurity (G1) and place in the Rainbow Futurity (G1) on his way to his championship awards.

Ivan James was bred in Texas and is by Ivory James and out of the Dashin Bye mare First Dashin Bye.

Ivory James is the little brother of leading sire PYC Paint Your Wagon. By Corona Cartel and out of the Strawfly Special mare Dashin Follies, Ivory James was foaled in 2004 and earned $220,026 in his career. He is Grade 1-placed and a four-time Grade 1 finalist.

From five crops to race, his progeny have earned more than $7.8 million, lead by Algorithmic ($319,408). Owned by Bobby Cox and Sylvia Shaw Pitman, the stallion stands at Royal Vista Ranches at Wayne, Oklahoma.

It is rather remarkable that the top of the leading sires list is a family affair. Full brothers PYC Paint Your Wagon and Ivory James are the top two horses, respectively, and they are followed in third place by none other than their daddy, leading living sire Corona Cartel.

Those three have collectively sired the earners of more than $3.1 million so far this year alone, 35 percent more than the Nos. 4-6 stallions combined (all three sons of Mr Jess Perry, incidentally).

The two brothers were bred by Michael Pohl of Montgomery, Texas, who is still part-owner in Pyc Paint Your Wagon. The brothers are also siblings to stakes winner Mi Angela ($137,723) and stakes-placed runners Eye Follies ($101,315) and Follies Bergere ($31,198).

Ivan James’ mama was also a homebred for Miraz, and was a force to be reckoned with on the track.

Foaled in 2005, the sorrel mare made 12 starts and was never worse than second. She won nine of them, including the Delta Downs Louisiana-bred Derby (RG1), LQHBA Lassie Futurity (RG2), Mardi Gras Derby (RG3), Louisiana Purchase Stakes (RG3) and Billy Montgomery LAD Stakes (R). She was also second in the Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G2) and Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1). She earned $449,035.

Her first foal, Spartocus (by Shazoom) was a stakes-placed earner of $39,300. Her third was stakes winner First Dashin Perry (by First Prize Perry, $83,772).

Remarkably, First Dashin Bye had two foals in the Sam Houston Futurity, including fourth-place finisher Miss Aguilar, a daughter of Tres Seis, and now an earner of $51,488.

"First Dashin Bye was very special," said Meraz. "I think her son will be the same.”

Sire Dashin Bye was one of 2014’s leading broodmare sires. Among the runners his daughters produced last year are Grade 2 winners Big Dashing Perry ($340,321) and Hezadashinbye ($149,655).

The same cross of a Dashin Bye mare, except with Ivory James’ full brother PYC Paint Your Wagon produced stakes winner Runaway Wagon ($146,125).

First Dashin Bye’s dam, Fast N Smooth 880, was herself a stakes winner with a career-high speed index of 102. She is also the dam of First Dashin Bye’s full brother, stakes-placed runner The Notradamus ($113,539).

Fast N Smooth 880 is a sister to stakes winners Speedy Kagi (by Speedy Hemp, $28,940) and Sealy Special (by Special Leader, $32,499).

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