BH FREE DROP BILLY STUNS SCHVANEVELDT FIELD AT 41-1 ODDS
Jose Aguilar Mendoza’s BH Free Drop Billy posted one of the surprise wins of the meet after the gelding by Bodacious Dash won the $35,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap by a ½ length at 41-1 odds on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
A winner in two of his first 27 career starts coming into the Schvaneveldt, BH Free Drop Billy picked a perfect time to drop a surprise bomb on his rivals. Starting from post four, the Oregon-bred left the gate a step behind Too Taboo. The two continued as the ones to catch down the lane before BH Free Drop Billy came through in the final 50 yards to catch Too Taboo.
“It feels really good,” said trainer Heraclio Botello, who was picking up his first stakes win ever at Los Alamitos. “We had faith in the horse. He had been working up really good to it. I had a feeling that he was going to pull it off. We had all the faith in the world. After a stakes win, you can’t take the smile off your face no matter where you are, especially at 40-1. It feels good. (The owner) gave the opportunity with Charlies Fast Man. He’s the first horse they gave me. It opened the door to a couple of more good horses. We got the opportunity to work with BH Free Drop Billy, Earthquake McGoon and a couple of other ones that should do pretty good for us pretty soon. I was surprise that he was 40-1. He pulled it off, an upset. It feels good.”
Ridden by Cesar Franco, BH Free Drop Billy earned $19,250 for the win to take his career bankroll to $68,133. Bred by Bill Hoburg, BH Free Drop Billy covered the 400-yard distance in :19.850.
Brent Farley and David Newbold’s Too Taboo earned $7,875 for his runner-up effort this race for trainer Monty Arrossa. Jesus Rios Ayala piloted the gelding by One Fabulous Eagle. J Lazy Six Racing’s Perfect Grand Shot earned $4,375 for running third with jockey Armando Viramontes up for trainer Heath Taylor. Kt Twos Are Wild, Earthquake McGoon, Jr Dash of Coronado, Miss Racy Seis, Suite Caroline and Heartache Tonite completed the field.
-30-