TRES IS BEST IN LOS ALAMITOS TWO MILLION
LOS ALAMITOS, CA—DECEMBER 13, 2008—A year ago, legendary trainer Blane Schvaneveldt had more pressing issues to deal with than winning races.
"A year ago I didn't think I would be here," said the sport's all-time leading conditioner. "And I don't mean training horses at Los Alamitos. I didn't think I would be here at all. I had gone through all kinds of surgeries on my back, nine of them in total, and I was in a lot of pain, a lot of pain. I didn't know if there would be another day for me."
Time has passed and Schvaneveldt, now 74-years-old, has fought through the pain and has returned to the top spot in his profession following a winning score by his charge, the Janet McKinnerney-owned Tres Passes, in the richest race ever held at the Cypress oval, the $2,038,250 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Friday night.
Ridden by Eddie Garcia, who earlier this year became the track's all-time leading Quarter Horse jockey, Tres Passes defeated Ed Burke Million Futurity winner Foose by 3/4 lengths, giving his connections their biggest wins of their lives. For Schvaneveldt, his win in the "Deuce" was the richest of his 4,000 or so victories in his Quarter Horse training career. The same applies for McKinnerney and Garcia.
A homebred sired by TRES SEIS and out of Sporty Spice, the bay gelding earned $820,785 for the win to take his freshman earnings to $1,436,765 from five wins in nine starts. This was his second victory of the year in a race worth over $1 million. He previously won the richest running ever of the Golden State Million Futurity on November 1 when taking the $1,386,500 race over the Ed Allred and Paul Jones-trained Foose. That victory gave Schvaneveldt his first ever in a million dollar race. The Hall of Fame trainer can now say he's also won a $2 million dollar event.
"These races, they've been wonderful," he said. "Winning the (Two Million) is as big of a thrill as I've ever had. It means more to me than anything because it's here at Los Alamitos. I can barely stand here right now because of my back and I can't bend down when I'm working in the barn, but I do feel good and I get better each day. Winning this race will make me get a lot healthier too."
It's been McKinnerney's own battles with back pain that have kept her from visiting Los Alamitos to watch Tres Passes' performances. A native of Hondo, Texas, McKinnerney instead is happy staying home and watching TVG's coverage of her baby's victories.
"I'm so proud for Blane that I don't know what to do right now," said McKinnerney only moments after Tres Passes' victory in the "Deuce". "It's been fantastic to watch how Blane has worked with this colt. I just talked to Blane on the phone to congratulate him and I know they're having a big party at Los Alamitos. We're having our own little private party here in my home. It's been a fantastic night. I'm here with my husband Floyd, and I've had a lot of congratulatory phone calls from my family and friends. I do not feel well and traveling is hard. I enjoy watching my horses from right here at home. Who knows when I'll feel better to go back (to Los Alamitos) and watch the horse? Tres Passes is entered in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby and then in the Golden State Derby, that's what's next for the horse."
McKinnerney smiled when she was asked about her plans for the money she had just won.
"I probably won't have a problem spending," she said. "I think spending money is a lot easier than making money. We have our ranch here and one of the things I've done is improve the stalls and move in topsoil to the stalls and paddock around the barn. That's an every year or every three-year process. I don't plan to take a vacation. My vacation is right here in my ranch. I'll probably spend some of the money on breedings for my mares next year. I'm thrilled to death about that. You know the mother of Tres Passes; she's in the barn right here outside my home. She'll have a Separatist foal next year. I'm keeping her under the lights. I'll probably go out tomorrow and tell about her son. I'll have to give her some extra feed tomorrow. I had a lot of chances to sell Tres Passes, but I don't have too many horses, so we figured that we might as well go all the way with him."
The victory aboard Tres Passes in the "Deuce" was an emotional one for Garcia, who on September 12 broke Danny Cardoza's record of 2,528 Quarter Horse wins with a horse trained by Schvaneveldt and trained by McKinnerney. "Blane has always stuck with me and given me a chance with his horses when others wouldn't ride me anymore," Garcia said. "To me this win is about our friendship."
While Garcia has enjoyed some outstanding moments in 2008, it has also been a tough year for the rider.
"Nine months ago I lost my dad, Guadalupe" Garcia said. "We fought with him for three years. He had kidney problems and had to go through dialysis. I was really close to him and when we lost him it hurt me. He installed all the discipline in me to be a rider. My dad taught me how to sit on a horse and how to work with horses, but he also taught me to have respect for the sport and for the people involved in racing. I see Blane, who is still hurting because of his surgeries, and he's out here working every day, and you respect that a great deal. We've worked together for a long time and it feels great to know that we just did this together."
McKinnerney, Garcia and Schvaneveldt will now have time to enjoy Tres Passes' great fall season, knowing that their gelding will be one of the leading contenders for year-end national honors. Plus, Schvaneveldt believes that the future is bright for his talented runner.
"He'll keep developing," he said. "He's like a prince when we train him, he's like an old saddle horse. He's a good horse to train. He's about as good a horse as I've ever had. He reminds me of Town Policy and he looks a little bit like him. This horse stands about 15.1. He's just made really special, and I think he can get better."
Trained by Jones, Foose finished a nose ahead of John Andreini, Vince Genco and Gianni Samaja's Fantastic Corona Jr.
Ridden by Alex Bautista, Foose earned $332,223 for second, which makes him a millionaire with $1,037,728 in career earnings. He has finished second or better in all seven of his career starts.
Fastest qualifier Fantastic Corona Jr, ridden by Ramon Sanchez and also trained by Jones, earned $234,510 for finishing in third place.
Gustavo De La Torre's Suger Mama ran a great race to finish fourth while earning $136,797. Ron and Denise VanAmburgh and Giambi Stables' A Tempting Dash made $117,255 for running fifth.
Winners Version, Hawkins Cash, Beastly King, Double Out and Jess Is Gorgeous completed the field.
