Speedhorse june 6, 2008 article

Heritage Place Derby, G1
DMNV MOUNTABLE CARRIES ON FAMILY BREEDING PROGRAM
Speedhorse, June 6, 2008

Cousins Ezra Lee of Colorado and Toby Dahl of Montana learned about racehorses through their grandfather, Merrill Lee. When their grandparents died, they took over the horses, concentrating primarily on the mares and selling the babies.

Then came DMNV Mountable. There was something about the colt they didn’t want to abandon. His pedigree was good, by Panther Mountain and out of Cheyennes Bullion by Bully Bullion. And he looked good, despite the fact that he was shaggy.

DMNV Mountable arrived at trainer Don Mourning’s au natural. There was no spit and shine, no preening polish.

Mourning handled the colt during his freshman season earning more than $41,000 including a victory in the RG2 Kansas Jackpot Futurity. Then Mourning’s assistant trainer, Jacque Uphaus, decided to strike out on her own, taking DMNV Mountable with her. Since then, the three-year-old colt has won the Grade 1 Remington Park Derby on April 19 after finishing third in his trial. He was also second in the Grade 2 Harrah’s Entertainment Derby and, not to be ignored, are the three bullet works he’s clocked this year.

On May 11, DMNV Mountable won his trial to the Grade 1, 400-yard $237,360 Heritage Place Derby at Remington. He scored 19.897 which placed him seventh on the list. Kenny Muntz was in the irons, returning for the assignment for the finals on June 1.

Muntz and DMNV Mountable drew the two-hole, stumbling badly at the break and charged fourth. Muntz was adept in his handling of the colt, helping him to regain a balanced footing.

The duo lost no time overtaking the early leaders, assuming the lead at the top of the stretch when he was a head to the good. G.R. Carter and Coronas Fast Dash dealt a strong attack but only to come within a head. Dmnv Mountable, refusing to be denied the trip to the winner’s circle, held on for the 19.704 seconds win with a 100 speed index and $99,691.

“He stumbled bad,” said Lee, “but made a great comeback. He also got into trouble in the trials; was running dead last and went on to win.

“There are so many people who need to be thanked for this awesome colt. I know my grandfather is listed as the breeder, but actually, it was Toby (cousin Toby Dahl) who found Panther Mountain and arranged the breeding. Kenny Muntz has been important to us as has Jacque Uphaus. Guy Weimer (part owner of Panther Mountain) has been super. All the people on the list, including the gatemen, have been so important in this colt’s success. I also have to include the state of Oklahoma.”

Cheyennes Bullion, the 1992 dam of DMNV Mountable, was bred by Larry Rice of Nebraska and is owned by Lee and Dahl. . The mare is out of Cheyenne’s Huwana by Arbeka Jet One. All six of her foals have run, including five ROMs, two stakes-placers, and one stakes winner. The mare was third in the Wyoming All Breed Futurity in 1994.

Finishing second was Coronas Fast Dash (Corona Cartel-Dash Fast Girl) owned by Bobby Cox, trained by John Buchanan, ridden by G.R. Carter. In third was Hijo De Villa (Oak Tree Special-Miss Brd) owned by Maria Maira Veasco Gutierrez, trained by Guillermo Valdivia, ridden by Debbie Freeman.