Preview Racing


Fifty Sophomores Entered in Dash For Cash Derby Trials
Dash For Cash Futurity(G2) winner RJ Having Fun will start next in Friday's Dash For Cash Derby G2 trials at Lone Star Park.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Fifty Sophomores Entered in Dash For Cash Derby Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 10, 2024–Graded stakes winners RJ Having Fun and Asscher head a group of 50 3-year-olds entered in Friday's 440-yard Dash For Cash Derby G2 trials at Lone Star Park.

RJ Having Fun is a gelded son of Pyc Fun N Fancy owned and trained by Toby Keeton, who this past summer sent out Hezgotthelook Z to become American Quarter Horse racing's first Triple Crown winner in 43 years. RJ Having Fun won two graded stakes during the Remington Park spring meet, including the 400-yard, $169,000 Remington Park Derby (RG1) in April.

RJ Having Fun was a $40,000 purchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The gelding drew post 8 and will be ridden by Juan Pulido in the first of five trials.

Asscher is a daughter of champion FDD Dynasty trained by Marc Jungers for owners Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton. A $350,000 buy at the '22 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the New Mexico-bred filly has earned $269,340 from six outs this year, and her three wins include a three-quarter length victory in the 400-yard, $404,000 Los Alamitos Oaks (G1) on March 23.

Asscher drew post 2 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos in the third heat.

Other prominent sophomores entered in the Dash For Cash Derby trials include graded stakes winners Gotagogh and Hoztile Takeover. Gotagogh races for Triple Five from the barn of trainer Juan Diaz Jr. A brown son of Favorite Cartel, the colt will be stretching out in distance off of his 1 3/4-length victory in the 400-yard, $145,000 Firecracker Derby (G3) at Delta Downs on July 5.

Gotagogh drew post 5 and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr. in the first trial.

Hoztile Takeover will be facing open company off of his 1 1/4-length win in the 400-yard, $137,000 Delta Downs Derby (RG3) for Louisiana-breds on July 13. Juan Diaz Jr. trains the One Sweet Jess gelding for owners Amanda St. Amant and Luis Armando Castellanos.

Hoztile Takeover brings a three-race win streak into the second Dash For Cash Derby trial. The gelding drew the rail post and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the October 5, $175,000-est. Dash For Cash Derby final.

All Lone Star Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.