Q Racing, “Classic Trip”, January 2009

Claiming his third Grade 1 or 2008, DMNV Mountable was the model of consistency over his sophomore campaign as he won $383,756 Texas Classic Derby (G1) by a nose over Coronas Leaving You.
Ridden by Alex Baldillez, who took over the mount halfway through the year, the Panther Mountain colt dueled gamely throughout the 440 yard trip to finish in :21.507. It was his sixth victory in 11 starts this year under the conditioning of trainer Jacque Uphaus.

“He’s just perfect,” Baldillez said after the race. “He tried to stumble a little bit, but he recovered from that, and then just took off. From there, he was just perfect.”

The dark bay son of Panther Mountain races for cousins Ezra Lee and Toby Dahl, and has been proving himself all year. Starting in January, he finished second by a neck in the February 2 Harrah’s Entertainment Derby (G2), then headed northwest to Oklahoma where he won the Grade 1 Remington Park and Heritage Place derbies. Supplemented to the All American Derby (G1) trials, he was hampered by a bumping at the break. He then went to Zia Park, where he ran third to Noconi in the Hobbs America Derby (G2) before heading to his fourth state and fifth track of the year.

This time luck held for the colt. His $170,776 paycheck for his Texas Classic victory boosted his lifetime earnings to $464,400. He has won 10 of 16 career starts, including four stakes.

“We had a great year!” Dahl said.

DMNV Mountable is a testament to the breeding of the cousins’ grandparents, Merrill and Virginia Lee, and the horse’s initials are a nod to their program. The horse is from the first crop of sire Panther Mountain, the 2003 champion aged stallion. From 157 starters, Panther Mountain has sired 89 winners and the earners of more than $2.5 million. He stands at Robicheaux Ranch at Beaux Bridge, Louisiana.
Dam Cheyennes Bullion is a winning daughter of Bully Bullion. She has also produced stakes-placed runners MNV Ms Pure Bullion and MNV Miss Arbeka Jet.

“He’s just a natural,” Uphaus said. “He’s given us 100 percent all year, all year long.”