Country Boy Deluxe and Okey Dokey Diamond Win Stakes
Dec 28th, 11
Aron Hunt rides Lucas Racing Inc.'s Country Box Deluxe to victory in the El Nino Invitational at Hialeah Park Saturday
El Nino Invitational
Country Boy Deluxe, trained by Ron Raper and ridden by Aron Hunt for Lucas Racing Inc., led “from flag fall to that’s all” in the $20,000-guaranteed El Niño Invitational, hitting the wire a half-length ahead of fast-closing Srd Bobwirebob.
The homebred gelded son of champion Country Chicks Man ran 400 yards in 19.516 seconds to pickup the winner's purse of $12,000. The two-year-old Florida-bred out of Corona Deluxe by Corona Cartel, remains perfect in two starts over the local strip. He won two of three outings at 400 this season while earning more than $21,000.
Srd Bobwirebob is a homebred Coronas Prospect gelding for Shelia Dorgan. Henry Smith trains the bay gelding ridden by Oscar Delgado. Out of the Lesley's Express mare Shouldabeenjoebob, he earned $4,000 for second.
Boogie Man, another Country Chicks Man gelding bred by Lucas Racing Inc., finished 1-1/2 lengths back in third for owner Brandon and Shelby Myers. Donnie Strickland saddled the black 2-year-old out of Calabogie, by First Down Dash. Ridden by Gary Boag, Boogie Man earned $2,000.
Completing the field were Eyema Little Ten, Sey Me Nemo, Hez Tricky Too, Pescado Fuerte and Zoomin Darline. Morning-line favorites Smarty James and Uno Dos Tres B were both scratched.
La Niña Invitational
Okey Dokey Diamond, trained by Victor Gonzalez and ridden by Victor Olivo for owner Rito Fernandez Moreno, responded to steady urging for a half-length victory over Arbeka Raincloud in the $20,000-guaranteed La Niña Invitational. Okey Dokey Diamond covered 400 yards in 19.791 seconds.
