Page 154 - April 2017

El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3
STELFAST
by Tracy Gantz
Paul Jones beat himself in the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3 at Los Alamitos on April 2. The Champion trainer qualified three
to the race, but lost to Stelfast, a horse he bred in partnership with Marcello Jorge.
Conditioner Valentin Zamudio also quali- fied three to the race, including Stelfast, who gave the trainer his first-ever graded stakes vic- tory. A groom and assistant trainer for several years, Zamudio was elated with the win in the $224,100 El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3, the richest running of the race since 2011.
Stelfast was the longest shot of Zamudio’s three runners. Under Cruz Mendez, the colt was bumped from both sides at the break, but overcame to win by 3/4-length in :19.887 for the 400 yards. The $94,122 winner’s share of the purse boosted his earnings to $164,582.
“Stelfast was a horse that we purchased pri- vately during the winter and I thought he was a great buy,” said Zamudio. “He had qualified to a couple of futurities, and his mother was a stakes winner. I was also fortunate to qualify Maximo and Jess Kan Fly, and they both ran good races in the trials. I came away from that night thinking that I had a chance for a fun night in this final.”
Since Zamudio began training Stelfast for owner Eva Carrazco, the colt finished second
by a head in his March 12
El Primero Del Ano Derby trial to fastest qualifier
That Rico. At 2 last year, Stelfast qualified for the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G3 and Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2, finishing fourth in the latter. He also ran fourth in the John Deere Juvenile Chal. Champ.-G2.
“He’s just so consistent, and he always tries hard,” said Zamudio.
The trainer celebrated the win at Los Alamitos with his wife, Irma, and their children, Angel and Katie. “My family loves the horses,” he said. “My wife is my assistant, and so is my young boy. He just loves the Quarter Horses and loves to come and see them at the track. He’s my helper, and it’s a great feeling to come to work and have a chance to bring him with me when there is an opportunity. You need that family support and feeling to it because the horses are our lives. It’s a lot of work and it takes a lot of time and sacrifice. I couldn’t do it without the support of my wife and entire family.”
Jones and Jorge bred Stelfast in California out of The Goodbye Kisser, who captured the
2010 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity-G1 and John
Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge. The mare has pro- duced four winners from five starters, including stakes-placed Favorite Kiss. Stelfast is her first stakes winner and top earner.
That Rico (Carters Cartel-Jess Like That) fin- ished second under Roberto Hernandez for trainer Paul Jones who owns the gelding Racing, Inc.
152 SPEEDHORSE, April 2017
Los Alamitos Race Course $224,100 • 400 yards :19.887 • si 89
Corona Cartel
Stel Corona
Our Lips Are Sealed
STELFAST, ’14-c.
First Down Dash
The Goodbye Kisser
Lipstick Kiss
with Thompson
Jones also trains Thats A Good Reason
(Good Reason SA-Forever Bradgelina) who finished third in a dead heat with Try Again (TR Dasher-Make Over) with Oscar Peinado aboard. Lisa Beauprez, Thomas Bradbury & John Hammes own the gelding. Try Again was ridden by Erasmo Gasca for owner Juan Jose Calderon and trainer Jesus Nunez
Up For Plenty (Kiddy Up-Plenty Good), Maximo (Tempting Dash-Fast Prize Rose), The Natural Nine (Corona Cartel-Boogie Special), Walk Thru Septacular (Walk Thru Fire-Septacular), Jess Kan Fly (Mr Jess Perry- Disco Del Rey) and Katella Deli (Foose- Katie Katella).
Stelfast (#3) and Cruz Mendez win the $224,100 El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3
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