Miss Royal Hawk Extends Winning Streak With Far West Futurity Victory

Fastest qualifier Miss Royal Hawk continued her impressive 2-year-old campaign Monday afternoon at Grants Pass, capturing the $79,540 Far West Futurity for her third consecutive victory and seventh win in eight career starts.

Ridden by Jaime Lopez, Miss Royal Hawk brushed at the start but quickly recovered to challenge for the lead. The filly battled with Big Kixx Cartel throughout the 400-yard contest before digging in late to prevail by a head. She stopped the clock in :19.658 over a fast track, earning a 96 speed index.

Miss Royal Hawk is a homebred for owner Ismael Villarreal and is trained by Jose Rosales Gomez. The Oregon-bred sorrel filly is sired by The Cartel Hawk and out of the Royal Shake Em mare Miss Royal Rumble.

Monday's victory added another major stakes title to her outstanding freshman season. Miss Royal Hawk previously captured the Firecracker Futurity and Pocatello Downs Spring Futurity and has now won seven of her eight career starts. Her record stands at 8-7-1-0 with earnings of $100,144.

Third-fastest qualifier Big Kixx Cartel overcame bumping at the start to battle for the lead before being narrowly denied at the wire, finishing second by three-quarters of a length over Tomatito. Ridden by Oscar Peinado, the colt races for owner Rancho AA LLC and trainer Adrian Gonzalez.

Bred by Belinda Pustka, Big Kixx Cartel is a $32,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate sired by Kiss My Hocks and out of the Big Daddy Cartel mare Fame In Rio. He now has a career record of 3-1-1-1 with earnings of $17,188.

Tomatito recovered from early bumping to rally into third under jockey Erick De Luna. The gelding races for owner Leobardo Bernal and trainer Mario Portillo.

Bred by Brazos and Sarah Wilfong, Tomatito is sired by One Famous Man and out of the Five Bar Cartel mare Sister Showtime. Earlier this season, he finished second in the Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge. He now has a career record of 7-3-3-1 with earnings of $35,757.

Ima Flyin Fool finished fourth, followed by Winter Hawk Cartel, Iza Diva, One Fabulous Cartel, Kvn Popped Off and La Chata Jg. Fast Fly was scratched by the veterinarian.

The Far West Futurity carried a race value of $79,540, with Miss Royal Hawk earning the $32,800 winner's share.

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