Page 42 - Speedhorse February 2018

JESSIES FIRST DOWN si 112, $1,050,864, Ntr
World Champion, Champion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Gelding
First Down Dash
FDD Dynasty
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet Rose Bug Beduino TB Little Smoothie On A High Sharper Image
Rocket Bar TB Go Galla Go To Market Hide And Seek Jet Deck
Leo Jewel
Lady Bug’s Moon Casco Rose Romany Royal Jo-Ann-Cat Smooth Move Marilyn Mae Dash For Cash Yankee Doll TB Easy Jet
Miss Killoqua
Easy Six
Miss Assured
Raise Your Glass TB La Jolla
Three Oh’s Vansarita Too Scooper Chick
La Ferne
Dash For Cash
First Prize Rose Dusty Canyon TB Like Grandma
Top Moon
Twayna
Ashment
Civic Center
Three Bars Golden Rocket Go Man Go
La Galla Win Market Wise Pretty Does Alibhai Scattered
Moon Deck Miss Night Bar Leo
Linda Jewel
Top Moon
FL Lady Bug Levan
Prissy Hankins Grey Sovereign Romany Belle Rejected
Quick Eye Rocket Bar TB Lady Wayward Moon Deck Ricketta
Rocket Wrangler Find A Buyer TB Mito Paint Crafty Yankee Jet Deck
Lena’s Bar TB Killoqua TB Beggar Vanet
Easy Jet
Peggy Toro
Little Request TB Assured
Raise A Native Champagne Woman
St Bar
Top Pretty TB
Three Chicks OhMyOh
Vandy Garrettsmisspawhuska Triple Chick
Scoop Bam Quicksilver King
Nikita
Rocket Wrangler
Find A Buyer TB Gallant Jet
Rose Bud
Fleet Nasrullah
Miz Danielle
David Cox
Kumi
Moon Deck
Rica Bar
Rebel Cause
Yeager’s Lady JA Ettabo
Blondy Rockette Midway Mayor TB
Tiny Bid
Tolltac Dinastia Toll BRZ
Phillips Filly
JESSIES FIRST DOWN, ’11, G.
Streakin Six
Mr Jess Perry
Jess A Classy Lassy
Streakin La Jolla
Scoopie Fein
Bottom’s Up
Sinn Fein
Legs La Scoop First Down Dash Classic Canyon Casady Casanova Miss Mighty Mary
A Classic Dash Mighty Classy Lassy
Miss Mighty Casady
Breeder/Owner: Ted G. Abrams Trainers: James Padgett & Judd Kearl Jockey: Rodrigo Vallejo
2017 Record: 7-5(4)-1(1)-1(1), $468,757, Zia Park Champ.-G1, All American Gold Cup-G1, Sam Houston Champ. Chal.-G2, Downs at Albuquerque Fall Champ., 2nd Remington
Park Invit.-G1, 3rd The Champ. At Sunland Park-G1., Ntr HOU 440yds.
Winning a World Championship isn’t easy. Winning a second consecutive one is exponentially even tougher, as evidenced by how infrequently it happens.
Ted Abrams’ homebred Jessies First Down put himself in rarified company when he became the first horse to win a second consecutive World Championship since SLM Big Daddy in 1997 and 1998. Only Tailor Fit has been able to win two titles in between, and he did it in non- consecutive years, 1999 and 2001.
“It was phenomenal—unbelievable,” said Abrams of Houston, Texas. “It actually came very much as a surprise for me, which made it more of a pleasure.”
Abrams bred Jessies First Down in Texas and races the gelding. Rodrigo Vallejo rode Jessies First Down throughout 2017, first for trainer Judd Kearl and then for trainer Jimmy Padgett.
“He’s a very, very fast horse,” said Vallejo, who was named Champion Jockey of 2017 and also rode 2-time Champion Hold Air Hostage.
Abrams raced Grade 1 winner Mighty Classy Lassy, Jessies First Down’s second dam, who is now retired at Abrams’ Rafter A Ranch at age 22. Mighty Classy Lassy produced Jess A Classy Lassy, who in turn produced Jessies First Down when bred to FDD Dynasty. Not only is Jessies First Down a two-time World Champion, he has quite a personality.
“He’s got the kindest eye and is a pleasure to be around,” said Abrams. “He’s got a huge number of fans.”
People love to come by the barn to get their photos taken with Jessies First Down, who especially enjoys posing with his female fans.
“I think he likes the long fingernails,” said Abrams. “If they scratch him with those long fingernails, he loves it.”
Jessies First Down even has a guard, a rooster named Captain.
“He stays outside Jessie’s stall all the time,” said Abrams. “The guys at the barn say he’s better than a guard dog.”
Javier Gonzalez grooms Jessies First Down. Abrams said that Gonzalez loves the gelding and
AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber, trainer Jimmy Padgett, owner Ted Abrams with wife Nancy and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo
40 SPEEDHORSE, February 2018
Marie Littlefield