Lee Five T Rallies To Win $17,000 Grants Pass Memorial Stakes

Lee Five T closed with a rush Sunday evening to capture the $17,000 Grants Pass Memorial Stakes (R) for Oregon-bred 3-year-olds and older at Grants Pass Downs.

Breaking from the outside post in the nine-horse field, Lee Five T overcame a fifth-place position late in the 350-yard event to surge past his rivals and score by one length. The 4-year-old sorrel colt stopped the timer in 17.385 seconds, earning a 98 speed index over a fast racing surface.

Ridden by Erick G. Garcia for trainer Mario Portillo, Lee Five T earned $8,500 for owner and breeder Hernan Torres. The Oregon-bred son of Five Bar Cartel is out of L Bar D Bonnie Lee, by Giorgino.

Sunday's victory improved Lee Five T's career record to 19 starts, four wins, three seconds and four thirds, with earnings of $37,183. In addition to his Grants Pass Memorial victory, he was previously third in the Grants Pass Derby Challenge.

Da Bros Cartel battled throughout before being bested late, finishing one length behind the winner and one-half length ahead of Fast Movin Freight for second. He earned $4,250 for owner Edwin F. Rosales.

Jose A. Rosales Gomez trains the 5-year-old gelding, who was ridden by Ramiro Jurado Jimenez. Bred by Hayden Brothers Ranch, Da Bros Cartel is by Carters Cartel out of Glitteratti, by Stoli. The multiple stakes winner has now compiled a record of 31 starts, seven wins, 9 seconds and three thirds, earning $108,029.

His stakes résumé includes victories in the Far West Futurity and Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Futurity, along with two runner-up finishes in the Grants Pass Memorial Stakes and a third in the Grants Pass Derby Challenge.

Fast Movin Freight finished another one-half length back in third, earning $2,040 for owner-trainer Fernando Fernandez. Alex V. Anaya rode the 9-year-old gelding, who was bred by Matt Huse. The son of Freighttrain B is out of Real Queen Like It, by Real Visions.

Fast Movin Freight's career totals now stand at 40 starts, five wins, 10 seconds and seven thirds, with earnings of $59,580. He was previously runner-up in the Emerald Downs Championship Challenge and added Sunday's Grants Pass Memorial Stakes placing to his stakes record.

Completing the field behind the top three were Cpr Im A Eagle, Dash For Zaylee, Mr Royal Cartel, Dash To The Flash T, One Sweet Lippy and Cpr Myfavoritewagon.

Editor’s note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.

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