FYRESTORM SURPRISES AGAIN, WINS CLAIMING FUTURITY

          Jeryl Hartley’s Fyrestorm loves the role of an underdog. The Fly Thru The Fire filly blew up the toteboard in her second career start, as posted her maiden victory at odds of 35-1. Two races later, Fyrestorm won again, this time at odds of 17-1.

         The homebred filly, who is a half-sister to graded stakes winner Hes Chickless, scored another upset win while competing in the richest race of her career in the $53,500 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Sergio Morfin, Fyrestorm won the race at 5-1 odds while defeating Link Newcomb’s talented Tell Cartel gelding Show N Tell Cartel by a ½ length at 350 yards. Fyrestorm did not have the fastest of starts, but she gained ground with every stride and by the midway point she was dueling with Show N Tell Cartel and Rr Fast Lew for the lead. At the wire, Fyrestorm had done it again, hitting the wire first at a price to earn her third victory in six career starts. The California-bred out of Chickitita covered the distance in :17.920 while earning $22,470 for the win.

         Nine runners were in action in the Claiming Futurity, a race with a twist. Horses in the final are eligible to be claimed for $16,000 each and as it turned out three of the nine starters in this race were tagged for a claim. Fyrestorm was one of them with Gonzalo Bocanegra winning a three-way shake for the claim. The most popular horse in the claiming box was Show N Tell Cartel, as there was a 14-way shake to acquire him, the eventual winner of the shake being owner Mario Montiel. Show N Tell Cartel had raced in the trials to the Rainbow Futurity back in June.

         Gekko, who finished third in the Claiming Futurity for owners Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas, was the other horse claimed out of this race. There was a four-way shake to purchase this Fly Thru The Fire gelding with J. Francisco Diaz being the winner.

Having earned $22,470 for the win and then being claimed for $16,000 from this race, Fyrestorm earned Jeryl Hartley a total of $38,740.

       “She got claimed,” said Morfin right after the race. ““This is a really nice filly and I liked her. You put her in claiming race and there’s a chance that could happen, but it’s a way to make money.” 

The complete order of finish is as follows: Fyrestorm, Show N Tell Cartel, Gekko, Rr Fast Lew, Nevaeh West, El Silencio Jnd, Last Best Shot and Run Thru The Nite.  

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