Page 188 - November_2023

RACING NEWS
JESS THE LEADER
by Kristen Moore
Gaining an early lead, Jess The Leader won the $59,500 B.F. Phillips Jr Stakes-RG3 at Lone Star Park on Sept. 30. Ridden by jockey Ali Rivera,
the bay gelding cross the wire a neck in front, finishing the 400 yards in a time of :19.838 and securing a 92 speed index.
Owner/breederPete Scarmardo and trainer John Stinebaugh shared in the geldings winning purse of $33,915. The gelding now holds earnings of $365,188. He won the TQHA Classic Stakes-G2 on July 28.
Bred in Texas, Jess The Leader is the leading money earner and first stakes winner out of Cartel Leader. The dam boasts over half a million dollars in progeny earnings and 11 of her 13 starters are winners. Cartel Leader’s stakes performances include a third place finish in the 2005 Texas Derby Challenge-G3 and she was a finalist in the 2004 Texas Classic Futurity-G1.
Won Famous Dash (Giorgino-Lil Famous Dash) and jockey Ricardo Garza-Cruz finished second. The sorrel gelding is owned by Scarlett Hill Farm and trained by Rolando Almanza. He won the B.F. Phillips Jr Stakes in Dec. of 2021.
DM Moonpie (Moonin The Eagle-DM Bella Mia) and jockey Froylan Ramirez filled the
third place slot. He is bred and owned by Donna Mushinski and trained by Kie Mushinski. The grey gelding placed second in Dr. Glenn Blodgett Stakes on Sept. 9.
Finishing the field were Daddy Caliente (Big Daddy Cartel-Valiant Flame), Getthere Fast (Tempting Dash-Get There), JB Shiner Bok (Boknaai-Streakin N Dancin), DM Frankie Blue Eyes (Fast Prize Jordan-DM Maryanna), Valentino Pete (Hes Relentless-Mystical Eye), Drinks After Work (One Sweet Jess-A Passionate Lady). His Time to Deal was scratched by trainer.
THE GRAND LEGEND
by Elle Summers
The Grand Legend took home his first stakes win of the season in the $24,684 AQHA Lone Star Park Distance Challenge-G3 on Sept. 29. He took home the $13,823 winner’s share of the purse for owner James C. Whitener LLC, which increases the gelding’s total earnings to $166,718.
Coming out of the No. 2 gate under jockey Noe Villatoro, The Grand Legend broke on top and had a 2 1/2-length lead at the first call. He continued
to widen his advantage throughout the stretch and crossed the finish line first with a 6 3/4-length lead. The seven-year-old gelding stopped the timer in :44.953 and recorded a 105 speed index. The Grand Legend is trained by Adan Guzman.
The Grand Legend was bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC and is out of the Tres Seis mare Legendary Seis, who was a finalist in the 2009 version of the TQHA Sale Futurity-RG3. The 2007 mare has produced seven winners from ten starters, including Graded stakes placed A Noble
Jess Elie. A half-sister to The Grand Legend, A Noble Jess Elie placed second in the 2013 Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity Stakes-G3 and the 2013 Old South Futurity.
With Bryan Candanosa in the irons, Jess Rite (One Sweet Jess-Twig) finished second for owner Rose Mary Chandler and trainer Toby Keeton. This is the sorrel gelding’s first stakes performance of his career, with a record of three firsts, two seconds, and one third from 12 starts.
Hi High Hopes (Favorite Cartel- Brighterthanthesun) finished third under jockey Francisco Giles. The five-year-old stallion is owned by Cole M. Clinger and trained by Bradley Bolen. This is Hi High Hopes first stakes performance of the year.
Dr Shan The Man (Call Me Corona-Twntyfour Karat Rock) finished fourth.
AJ GOLD HEART
by Kristen Moore
Quickly taking command of the field, AJ Gold Heart took home the cash in the $49,910 Dash For Cash Juvenile at Lone Star Park on Oct.
7. Under jockey Jacob Enriquez, AJ Gold Heart led the field, and held on well to bag his first stakes win. The filly crossed over the wire by a neck, completing the 400 yards in a time of :19.955, for an 89 speed index.
AJ Gold Heart earned the $12,478 winner’s share of the purse for owner Franky Busani. The sorrel filly is trained by Ricardo Armendariz Jr. and she raised her career earnings to $39,193.
AJ Gold Heart is Oklahoma-bred by Rancho El Cabresto. She is out of the stakes winning
dam Premier Ethics. AJ Gold Heart is the leading money earner and first black type runner out of Premier Ethics.
Ridden by jockey Victor Urieta Jr, Classy Looking Chick (Mister Fulton-Menacing Looks) ran a game second. The filly is owned by Josefina Guzman and trained by Juan Diaz Jr. She won the TQHA Sale Juvenile Stakes on Aug. 5 at Retama Park.
Yippee Ki Yey (Tres Seis-Jess Shantastic) and jockey Jimmy Brooks crossed the wire just a head behind Classy Looking Chick. The gelding is bred and owned by Stanley Forbes and trained by Cody Noel. He won the Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes on June 11.
The remainder of the field placed as
follows: Liberater (This Is An Eagle-Liberte), Dankeshayne (Apollitical Jess-All About
Ease), Military Time (Apollitical Jess-Lotta Love For Robyn), Relentless Snowdrop (Hes Relentless-Bootsie Lassie), Viva Le Barron (Rock Solid Jess-Viva Arriba), Elverna Bradshaw (The Louisiana Cartel-Rock Princess), Beau Crest (Apollitical Jess-Cassandra Crest).
186 SPEEDHORSE November 2023
B.F. Phillips Jr. Stakes-RG3
AQHA LS Distance Challenge-G3
Dash For Cash Juvenile
Dustin Orona Photography
Dustin Orona Photography
Myriam Maynard, Speedhorse
Lone Star Park • $49,910
400 yards • :19.955 • SI 89
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
AJ GOLD HEART, ‘21-f. Premier Ethics
Apollitical Time Ethics Aside
Poker Pot Dash
Lone Star Park • $24,684
870 yards • :44.953 • SI 105
FDD Dynasty
FDD Going Grand
Cash Cartel
THE GRAND LEGEND, ‘16-g.
Tres Seis
Legendary Seis
Valentine Alliance
Lone Star Park • $59,500
400 yards • :19.838 • SI 92
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS THE LEADER, ‘19-g. Cartel Leader
The Louisiana Girl Corona Cartel
Decided Leader