Excerpts from the Quarter Horse Racing Journal, January, 1988.
Bred and born of the blood of Champions, Dash for Cash was by Rocket Wrangler, one of the finest sons of the Thoroughbred stallion Rocket Bar, arguably the best of many outstanding progeny of Three Bars. Rocket Wrangler was out of the talented stakes-winning 'Go Man Go' mare Go Galla Go, a gutty little competitor which earned black type, money and accolades on tracks from South Texas to the West Coast in the early 60's.
Under the careful eye of C.W (Bubba) Cascio and the expert rider- Jerry Nicodemus. "The Wrangler" ran out a quarter of a million dollars in a career that spanned 10 victories in 23 races over 2 1/2 years. "He was sure one of the luckiest horses I was lucky enough to ride." said Nicodemus of Rocket Wrangler , a sprinter which put together victories in the All-American and Rainbow futurities in 1970 to be named the sport's top freshmen colt. B.F. Phillips (Dash for Cash's breeder/owner) was impressed by Rocket Wrangler's bone structure , among other things, and felt that, Find a Buyer (Dash for Cash's dam) had the kind of conformation and breeding that would benefit from Rocket Wrangler's. "Rocket Wrangler had a fine head and neck , and the mare needed help. Thats why I bred her to him."
The breeding was successful, phenomenally so, and Phillips knew it right off the bat.
Dash for Cash- the horse spread his name across the country, first as a racehorse who's fame rivaled, maybe even surpassed, that of his legendary ancestor, Go Man Go, later as a sire who's offspring have dominated major league Quarter Horse racing. His fame continues to grow, as a new generation- sons and daughters and sons and daughters- comes to the forefront and continues to spread his influence even further.
"I think the one thing that made Dash for Cash as fast as he was, and as successful as he was, was the fact that he had so much intelligence," said Phillips. This horse had more intelligence, and has more intelligence, than any horse I've ever been around. " "When he was in training, this horse was just as docile as could be; you could take him out with a cotton rope and halter, and lead him out and graze him anytime, all the time he was training. But you put him on a racetrack, and he got up on the muscle. He was that way his whole life, you can go out there, and lead him anywhere you want to, do anything you want with him, and he's just perfect. Every other day in breeding season, when he comes out of his stall and he knows he's going to the breeding barn, he gets on the muscle- but he's all business, whatever he does. And after the business is over , he's through."
SO THATS DASH FOR CASH, THE RACEHORSE, THE STUD - 25 starts, 21 wins, and three seconds, earnings of $507,687 and a Speed Index of 114.
Dash for Cash was laid to rest in 1996.
