HEZA FAST DASH

Inducted into the LQHBA Hall of Fame in 2022

Leading sire Heza Fast Dash is the 2022 equine inductee into the LQHBA Hall of Fame. The son of Heza Fast Man out of the Dash for Cash mare First Prize Dash was bred in Oklahoma by prominent horsewoman Weetona Stanley and was born on March 21, 1998.

He made 18 starts in his racing career, winning three races and was the runner-up up in the Remington Park Futurity (G1) for conditioner Rodney Reed. He retired with earnings of $136,123.

What transpired following his retirement was a very interesting acquisition that speaks volumes of the men involved. It began with James Pruitt who made a phone call to Jude Robicheaux, the patriarch of Robicheaux Ranch in Breaux Bridge, Louisiana. He asked Jude to come to Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma to evaluate Heza Fast Dash as a prospective stallion.

"I had no interest in going all the way to Oklahoma," admitted Jude. "James and Coulon would not leave me alone, so Coulon and I drove up to see him. When we got to Tulsa, the stable gate was locked; we had to spend the night and come back first thing in the morning. It was so dark; I couldn't really see him."

Coulon Jumonville remembered every detail of that trip to Tulsa.

"James Pruitt, a dear friend of the family, had it in his mind that Heza Fast Dash would make a good stallion," said Jumonville. "He was a good solid horse, and his mom was a full-sister to First Down Dash, but (his sire) Heza Fast Man wasn't hot at the time." The six-figure purchase was a huge risk to the Louisiana horsemen at the time, and they were not sure that the acquisition was worth the risk. Pruitt convinced them that forming a syndicate would be prudent and David Smith and M.C. Morris joined Jumonville and Robicheaux as investors.

Smith, who later founded StallionesSearch, was the Agent for Weetona Stanley and sold Heza Fast Dash to Coulon. He used his commission to stay in as a part owner in the original deal before he was syndicated.

"He was the best investment I ever made in the horse business," stated Smith.

Pruitt was instrumental in attracting additional investors for the syndicate, but Jumonville had a clear vision to the future of Heza Fast Dash.

"It's the only horse deal that I've been in that I never lost a nickel," he said. "Heza Fast Dash was a once in a lifetime horse. He had a great demeanor and passed his sense to his babies. You could cross him with anything!"

When Heza Fast Dash arrived at Robicheaux Ranch in 2000, the farm had four stallions. His fee was set at $2,500 and Ryan Robicheaux, who serves as farm manager for the family-owned ranch, originally shared his father's doubts.

"When daddy first got him, I wasn't sure he would be a producer," he said. "He looked more like a roping horse!"

But Ryan soon became a believer as Heza Fast Dash embarked on a prolific second career as a stallion.

His first crop of foals hit the ground in 2004 and made a significant impact on the track two years later. Heza Fast Dash ended 2006 as the #2 leading first-crop sire of money earners with 20 winners and 2 stakes winners earning $686,527. A top three leading sire in his second and third crops he climbed into the top-ten leading sires of money earners list by 2010, where he remained throughout his career.

In 2013 Heza Fast Dash was the #1 Leading Sire of Money Earners in the nation with 89 winners, 20 stakes winners and earnings of $3,758,069. Rounding out the top five that year were Corona Cartel, Pyc Paint Your Wagon, Valiant Hero and FDD Dynasty.

"He wasn't the easiest breeder," explained Ryan. "There were so many mares that he had no interest in, but he was very fond of a paint mare, who became his girlfriend and helped us in the breeding shed."

His stud fee rose to $8,000 and in 13 crops, he sired the earners of more than $30.6 million, which placed him eighth on the AQHA Racing list of all-time leading sires by money earned. Of course, his imprint on Louisiana Quarter Horse racing was unsurpassed. Heza Fast Dash was among the leading sale sires in Louisiana most of his career. Heza Fast Dash top performers include 18 runners of over $300,000, 11 runners over $400,000, 4 runners over $500,000, 1 over $700,000.

Eysa Jess Jumpn ($932,387), who won 15 of her 21 starts including the Lee Berwick Memorial Louisiana Bred Futurity [RG1); Dashinunder Afullmoon ($711,951), also a Lee Berwick Futurity Champion; Ol Time Preacher Man ($565,933),who won the LQHBA Louisiana Million (RG1); Heza Louisiana Dash ($531,041); Jes A Fast Dasher ($493,459) and Zupers Quick Dash ($471,129) to name only a few.

Heza Fast Dash died on January 24, 2019, following complications from laminitis. He was buried at Robicheaux Ranch, where he stood his entire stallion career.

Through the years, Heza Fast Dash not only put Robicheaux Ranch on the map but endeared the bay stallion to each member of the family.

"For a horse that only made $136,000 on the track to produce over $30 million in progeny is really something," stated Ryan. "Heza Fast Dash was a very special horse and has done so much for our family. We will never forget him."