Kennewick horse owners enjoy million-dollar weekend

Don, Kathy and Shawn Meneely of Kennewick raked in more than $1 million last weekend when both of their horses won at Southern California race track Los Alamitos.

Heza Dasha Fire won the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Saturday, “a victory likely to lead to him being named World Champion Running Quarter Horse for 2015 next month,” according to Daily Racing Form.

The 3-year-old gelding covered 440 yards in 21.20 seconds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths over Moonist, which DRF said was Los Alamitos’ leading older horse this year. Heza Dasha Fire took in $300,000 for the win.

The 2015 season awards will be handed out in January in Oklahoma City. Heza Dasha Fire went unbeaten in five starts this year, including the Golden State Derby in August and the Los Alamitos Super Derby in October.

Heza Dasha Fire’s half brother Ima Fearless Hero was victorious in Sunday’s $1,957,175 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity for 2-year-old quarter horses. Ima Fearless Hero finished the 400-yard race in 19.68 seconds, edging Docs Best Card and earning $801,434.

The Meneelys became the first owners to win the Champion of Champions and Two Million Futurity in the same year. Jockey Cruz Mendez rode both Meneely horses last weekend, and they are trained by Jose Flores.

Ima Fearless Hero has won six of eight starts, including five in a row, for $982,699. Heza Dasha Fire has won 11 of 12 starts for $1,689,388 in career earnings.

This story was originally published December 15, 2015 at 4:42 PM with the headline "Kennewick horse owners enjoy million-dollar weekend."