Page 151 - July 2019

Ruidoso Derby-G1
APOCALYPTICAL JESS
by Danny Camp
Big money brings out the best in an athlete and their connections. With a total purse of $958,766 for the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby,
it was Apocalyptical Jess who showed his class on June 8. A win at 400 yards is becoming commonplace for this gelding, as he’s won some of the biggest.
A two-length victory in the May 26 trials brought him into the finals with the fastest qualifying time of :19.749.
In the finals, Apocalyptical Jess broke from the number 3-post on the lead, got the first call and every call following to cross
the wire a neck in front under jockey Tanner Thedford, who was riding the gelding for the first time.
Apocalyptical Jess brought home the $411,951 winner’s share of the purse for owner Bill T. Robbins and trainer Trey Wood, boosting his total lifetime earn-
ings to $2,081,773. With this victory, he extended his win streak to four races. His record is now 10-7(3)-1-0, which includes a first in last year’s All American Futurity-G1 as well as in this year’s Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby-RG3. Apocalyptical Jess, who was also a finalist in the Texas Classic Futurity-G1, was named the 2018
Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding following his stellar freshman campaign.
“This horse is completely sound,” said trainer Trey Wood. “That’s the reason he continues to run as fast as he does. We turned him out for a couple of months and he fresh- ened up. Now he’s at the top of his game. He pulled up good after the trials and again after the finals.
“This horse is a complete professional at whatever he does,” the conditioner continued. “He’s a pro to gallop or to work. He is rock steady in the gates. He’s a winner. It’s hard
to outrun him because he doesn’t make mis- takes and he never gives up. We are looking forward to the Rainbow trials and, hopefully, the All American.”
Apocalyptical Jess’s regular rider, Ricky Ramirez, also qualified Flying Cowboy 123 to the Ruidoso Derby and he opted to ride the latter in the finals.
“From the outside looking in, it doesn’t look good,” said Ricky Ramirez of his choice. “I took off a horse that has made over a million and a half (Apocalyptical Jess) to ride a horse that made five hundred thousand (Flying Cowboy 123). The fact is that Flying Cowboy 123 should have never
qualified. Trial day saw a cross wind all day. That is, except the trial heat for Cowboy. We ran in the rain into a strong head wind and he still qualified.
“A J (Apocalyptical Jess) and Cowboy (Flying Cowboy 123) are both fast and at
the top of their game,” Ricky added. “If you remember earlier in the year, I took off A J to ride Cowboy in the finals of the Texas Classic - Cowboy had the fastest time - and I won that one.”
So, jockey Tanner Thedford stepped in to ride Apocalyptical Jess in the Ruidoso Derby finals. “I just try and show up and work hard every day,” said Thedford. “I’m glad to have had the opportunity to ride a great horse. I work for a great team that is more like family.
“We broke good and had a lane to run,” Thedford continued. “Apocalyptical Jess did the rest. He is just a class act. I was a little worried halfway down the track. They seemed to be gaining on us. Every time I thought they were catching us, A J just dug in a little deeper.”
Danny Joe Miller bred Apocalyptical Jess out of three-time winner Cassandra Crest, who was second in the 2003 Retama Park
Apocalyptical Jess (#3) & Tanner Thedford receive every call and win the $958,766 Ruidoso Derby-G1
SPEEDHORSE, July 2019 149
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