Page 192 - January_2023

RACING NEWS
A Ransom Handicap
JESS BEING A FRIEND
Tby Tracy Gantz
his was owner Howard Nichols second year in
row to win the $25,000 A Ransom Handicap at Los Alamitos when Jess Being A Friend captured his first stakes victory on Dec. 17.
Jess Being A Friend broke on top for jockey Rodrigo Aceves. He dueled with several in the field throughout the 350 yards, but managed to lead at every call. He finished with a neck victory, stopping the time in :17.681 to earn a 91 speed index. He also earned the $13,750 winner’s share of the purse, raising his earnings to $410,575.
Trained by Elena Andrade, Jess Being A Friend’s race record now stands at four wins from 14 starts. Earlier this year he placed second in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G2 on Oct. 1 and he also placed second in the 2021 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1.
He was bred in California by his owner Howard Nichols, out of the winning and stakes-placed mare Six Zeroes. In 2016 she placed third in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G2 and was a qualifier for the Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and earned $77,432 during her career. She has produced 100% winners from her two starters with earnings of $420,085.
Five Livestock Company LLC’s homebred Chicks Dashin Bandit (Coronas Fast Dash-First Prize Chicks) finished second under jockey Armando Cervantes. The gelding is trained by Monty Arrossa. Chicks Dashin Bandit won this year’s Rod Hills Memorial Derby and the 2021 Oneida County Futurity.
Paulo Otavio Freire MacEdo’s homebred Amadeus MV (Power Jam TB-Queen Of Appeals) ran third under jockey Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores.
She Goes Up (Seperate Interest-Up For It) and Jess Hez On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Send Me) dead- heated for fourth. Completing the field were Da Special One (Two Corona Special-Da One), Look Up (Kiddy Up-Look Her Over), and Gratian (Favorite Cartel- Kaniska). One Jenuine Cartel V was scratched.
Holiday Handicap
FAMOUS MISS KITTY
Fby Tracy Gantz
amous Miss Kitty became a stakes winner on
the final day of 2022 in the $20,000 Holiday Handicap at Los Alamitos on Dec. 31.
It wasn’t an easy victory. Rain turned the track into a wet-fast surface. Famous Miss Kitty bumped with a rival at the start, getting away in sixth. By the first stretch she had already moved to third
and by mid-race she had taken the lead. She closed gamely under jockey Erasmo Gasca to score by a head, stopping the timer in :17.760 for 350 yards. She earned an 89 speed index as well as the $11,000 winner’s share of the purse to bring her earnings to $92,578 for her owner/breeder Johnny Trotter.
Jose Flores trains Famous Miss Kitty, who now has a race record of 10-3-4-1. She finished second in the John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge Stakes on Aug. 13.
Trotter bred Famous Miss Kitty in Texas from stakes-placed One Famous Lady, who earned $172,515 during her racing career. She has pro- duced 12 winners from 20 starters, including four stakes winners and two stakes-placed runners with earning of $1,942,535.
Dont Sass KVN (KVN Corona-Sassy On Fire), finished second under jockey Ramon Sanchez. The colt is owned by Bradbury Racing and trained by Paul Jones.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Remember Her (Kiddy Up-Remembering Florence) ran third. Trainer Scott Willoughby had Jonathan Roman pilot the filly.
Completing the field were Muy Bien Corona (Corona Cartel-Lady Perry On Fire), Marcelo (Fast Prize Cartel-SS Calendar Girl), Doctor Schecter (Apollitical Jess-This Candys Okay), Bold N Brave (Corona Cartel-Big Biz Perry), and Up The Interest (Seperate Interest-Kiddy Up Cowgirl). Mi Santo was scratched.
AQRA Turf Paradise Derby
HIGH FLYING HERO
Hby Tracy Gantz
igh Flying Hero became a stakes winner when
he captured the $60,288 AQRA Turf Paradise Derby hosted at Turf Paradise on Dec. 22.
High Flying Hero went off as the 3-5 favorite under jockey Agustin Silva in the final. He broke well and vied for the lead right from the start, leading at every call enroute to the finish. Scoring by 1 1/4-lengths, he stopped the timer in :19.761 to earn a speed index of 102 and the $30,144 winner’s share of the purse. This latest win pushed his earnings over the six-figure mark to $101,701.
Jesus Carrete trains High Flying Hero for owner Arturo Cervantes, who acquired the gelding prior to the 2022 All American Derby-G1 trials. Unplaced in those trials, High Flying Hero won an allowance race at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 4 for his new connections. He also placed second in the James Isaac Hobbs Stakes-G2 at Zia Park on Oct. 9.
Ted Abrams, who raced High Flying Hero early in his career, bred the gelding in Texas from his homebred mare Jess A Classy Lassy. She won two races and placed twice out of her six career starts and was a finalist in the 2007 Rainbow Futurity-G1. She has produced 10 winners from 12 starters, including 2017 World Champion Jessies First Down.
Rodolfo Arvizu rode Benevolent (Fly Thru The Fire-Bemused) to second for owner Jesus Avila and trainer Guillermo Morales.
B The One (Five Bar Cartel-Kt Perry) finished third under jockey Cesar Moreno, for owner Onofre Hernandez and trainer Armando Alamos.
Completing the field were La Panama West (Panama Wes-JM The Dance), Five Bars Happy (Five Bar Cartel-JM Onfire), Five Bar Runner (Five Bar Cartel-Check Her Running), K W (Corona Cartel- Budder Think Twice), Sixteen Red (Panama Wes- Blazen Mama), and Garavani (First Down Dash-Celtic Emblem). Favorite Blues Man was scratched.
190 SPEEDHORSE January 2023
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Coady Photography
Los Alamitos • $25,000
350 yards • :17.681 • si 91
Valiant Hero
Jess Being Valiant
Jess Sass Me
JESS BEING A FRIEND, ‘19-g.
Six Zeroes
Walk Thru Fire Million Ways
Los Alamitos • $20,000
350 yards • :17.760 • si 89
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
FAMOUS MISS KITTY, ‘20-f.
Chicks Beduino
One Famous Lady
One Slick Cookie
Turf Paradise • $60,288
400 yards • :19.761 • si 102
First Down Dash Corona Chick
Mr Jess Perry
Jess A Classy Lassy
Valiant Hero HIGH FLYING HERO, ‘19-g.
Mighty Classy Lassy