DUTCH MASTERS III LOOKING FORWARD TO KINDERGARTEN TRIALS NIGHT
Dutch Masters III and Jaime Gomez have enjoyed as much success in the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity as anyone in the history of this race. With four wins, Dutch Masters III shares the record for the most Kindergarten victories with the late owner, breeder and AQHA Hall of Fame inductee Ivan Ashment. Meanwhile, Gomez is at the top of the Kindergarten class with eight victories, the most ever by a trainer.
Together, they’ve also enjoyed great success as well, as Gomez has saddled all four of Dutch Masters III’s winners, including strolls into the winner’s circle in back-to-back years in 2000 and 2001 thanks to Secret Card and Sassy Smith. Gomez saddled another winner for Dutch Masters III with Gold Nugget Rd in 2005 before completing the Kindergarten grand slam thanks to Twin Spires in 2009.
Can a fifth Kindergarten be in the cards for Dutch Masters III and Gomez? Based on their early returns anything is possible.
“Four horses, two first, one second and one third,” said Dr. James Streelman about the results from his 2023 juvenile starters this season. Streelman, who has spearheaded Dutch Masters III since the mid-1980s, saw victories by Cloud Burst, a filly by 2012 AQHA World Champion One Dashing Eagle who won her debut at 7-1 odds on April 1, and then a photo finish win with the Apollitical Blood gelding My Kind Of Lover at 9-1 odds on April 2. With the Kindergarten trials set for April 23 both Cloud Burst and My Kind Of Lover are expected to be part of the festivities.
Then there’s Racy Sweet Corona, a gelding by Corona Cartel, who might be the skilled runner in the Dutch Masters III stable. The Texas-bred ran second in his debut, but it came in the meet’s fastest juvenile race won by Choose One in a 220-yard time of :12.02 also on April 2. At the end of the night, Streelman asked jockey Oscar Peinado who he thought was his top choice from the DM III stable, Peinado responded with a flick of the finger and words referring to Racy Sweet Corona. Streelman’s starter was completed by Dalton DM, who finished a good third at 11-1 odds on April 1. Racy Sweet Corona and Dalton DM are also Kindergarten eligible.
“Not bad,” said Gomez with a smile. “I have good help all the time.”
“Cloud Burst was our first (runner) in about six months,” Streelman said. “We got to walk down here (winner’s circle) and that’s nice. It’s always nice. These babies, every year it’s hopes and dreams. We’ve been hoping and dreaming, and I think we have something to work with now.”
Streelman also took the time to remember the late Denny Boer, who for three decades was the other half of Dutch Masters III.
“I lost my best friend ever when Denny passed away,” Streelman said. “I think about him every day. I have a new great friend in Bill Dale. He’s a great horseman and I talk to him daily. This industry and its people are great. This is a fun time of the year.”
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