Page 216 - Speedhorse April 2019

Oklahoma Derby-G3
JESS PROVED YOUWRONG
by Tracy Gantz
Jess Proved Youwrong broke very well in her March 8 trial for the $255,750 Oklahoma Derby-G3 at Remington Park, drawing off from the field and winning her heat by 1 1/4-lengths to qualify with the second fastest clocking. But her start in the finals on March 23 wasn’t nearly as clean.
“She got squeezed at the start,” said co- owner Rito Sosa. “She didn’t break like she did in the trials. But at the end, she came out flying. She broke ninth, and as soon as the five and the seven horse separated, she went through them.”
Jess Proved Youwrong masterfully overcame the poor start and tight quarters, passing her rivals to eke out a head victory in :17.440 for 350 yards. The time was worth a 92 speed index.
Her jockey, James Flores, had a super night at Remington, winning six races on the card, including the Oklahoma Futurity-G2 with EC Revenge, the Eastex Stakes-G2
with Political Attraction, and the Speedhorse Graham Paint & Appaloosa Derby-G1 with Bullet Bonnie. Both Jess Proved Youwrong and Political Attraction are by the stallion Apollitical Jess.
Flores said that Jess Proved Youwrong responded well to him.
“I just rode her and rode her all the way past the wire and she got the win,” the jockey stated. “I couldn’t have done it without the opportunity and the support of everybody.”
Sosa owns Jess Proved
Youwrong with Jose Ernesto
Guzman. The two of them
selected her out of the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, with Sosa signing the ticket for $33,000.
“We paid half and half,” said Sosa. “We both looked at the filly, and we both liked her. I liked the way she looked—she was straight- legged. I liked everything about her, especially being by Apollitical Jess out of a Strawfly Special mare. That’s a pretty good cross.”
The partners put Jess Proved Youwrong into training last year. She won once and finished third twice in six starts. She won her trial to the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity and was a finalist in the Juvenile. Then she finished third in the FL Lady Bug Stakes.
In December, they turned her over to trainer Amanda Tongay. Under Tongay’s tute- lage, the filly is now two for two.
“I didn’t have her last year, but over the winter she seemed to mature and we have her where she’s settled down,” Tongay said. “I was really nervous when she got squeezed back, but she has a lot heart and we knew that she would try.”
Sosa said that Jess Proved Youwrong came out of the Oklahoma Derby
in great shape. The filly has now earned a total of $131,712 with the addition of this $102,300 winner’s share.
The owners have the filly paid into the Heritage Place Derby-G3, with the trials on May 12 and finals set for June 1.
Rex and Sue Cox bred Jess Proved Youwrong in Oklahoma and consigned her to the Heritage Place sale. The filly is out of winner Oh Strawfly Go, who has also produced 2013 Paul’s Valley Handicap-G3 and 2012 Walter Merrick Memorial Stakes winner Oh Cooper Go. The Coxes bred Oh Cooper Go as well as Oh Strawfly Go.
Remington Park $255,750 • 350 yards :17.440 • si 92
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
JESS PROVED YOUWRONG, 16-f.
Strawfly Special
Oh Strawfly Go
Oh Mickey Go
214 SPEEDHORSE, April 2019
Jess Proved Youwrong & James Flores take the $255,750 Oklahoma Derby-G3
RACING NEWS
Dustin Orona Photography