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West Texas Derby-G3
AGGRESSIVE DRIVER
by Danny Camp
Aggressive Driver drove down the track the fastest in the $184,255 West Texas Derby-G3 at Sunland Park on March 7.
The gelding didn’t get ahold of the ground as he stepped away from the number 5-post, breaking in third, but he dueled through-
out the contest. At the halfway point, it was anybody’s race to win, but Aggressive Driver and jockey Mauro Salcedo
wanted it the most.
Racing for owners/ breeders Ricardo Bernal
and Reymundo Resendez, Aggressive Driver finished a nose in front to complete the 400 yards in :19.575 for an 87 speed index.
The gelding also earned the first place check
worth $86,586, boosting his total lifetime earn-
ings to $131,422. Trained by Cynthia Gonzalez,
Mardi Gras Derby
JESS U R BLUE
by Michael Compton
Jess U R Blue kept his record unblemished with a strong win in the $123,790 Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs on March 14. In registering his fifth consecutive victory, the gelding led virtually throughout the 400-yard test. Ridden by Luis Vivanco, Jess U R Blue battled with A Quick Jewel away from the gate and then shrugged off challenges from Patriot On Ice and Leavin You Blue to defeat the latter by
a 1/2-length at the finish. Trained by Fernando Lopez, Jess U R Blue, the fast-
est qualifier for the main event, stopped the timer in :19.803, earning a 94 speed index.
Owned by Jose Oviedo, Jess U R Blue now boasts five wins in as many starts. The $55,706 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $83,306. The $7,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate has proved an astute investment. He broke his maiden on debut
Sunland Park $184,225 • 400 yards :19.575 • si 87
Streakin La Jolla
Mr Jess Perry
Scoopie Fein
AGGRESSIVE DRIVER, ‘17-g.
Corona Cartel
Designateddriver
Elaines Fantasy
Aggressive Driver now has a race record of 9-5(2)-0-0, which includes his victory in the Albuquerque Juvenile last year. He has won his last four in a row since Mauro Salcedo took over the riding assignment.
John Andreini bred Aggressive Driver out of winner Designateddriver. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from six starters.
Aggressive Driver is her first stakes winner as well as her top earner.
His second dam is Elaines Fantasy, who ran second in the 2002 Big Splash Stakes, third in the 2002 Oklahoma Distaff Challenge-G3
and was a finalist in the 2002 Central Distaff Challenge-G3.
KJ Frankie B (Apollitical Jess-Xquizit) earned second place money under jockey Alan Hernandez for owners
John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares. Wesley Giles trains the gelding, who was a finalist in the Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star Park last year.
Apollitical J Wild (Apollitical Jess-BP Shes Southern) banked third place money for owner Jose Bernardo Soto. The Danny Urista trainee had Paul Garcia in the irons. The gelding finished fifth in the West Texas Futurity-G2 at Sunland Park last year.
Ratatattat (Volcom-A Lil Known Fact), Dynast C (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Bling Dynasty), Franklin Road (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Miss Jess Perry), A Valiant Zoomer (Valiant Hero-Signs Zoomer) and No Sandbaggin (Seperate Interest-Remember The Cartel) completed the order of finish. Cers Final Try, Dr Tool, Fightn Side Of Me and Hotsempting were scratched.
Futurity-G1 last year. The chestnut gelding was bred in Louisiana by Kenneth Garcia.
Patriot On Ice (Jet Black Patriot-Zooming On Ice) rounded out the top three finishers with Francisco Calderon aboard for owner Rogelio Marquez and trainer Alberto Solis. Victorious in the Billy Montgomery Stakes at Louisiana Downs earlier this year, the sorrel gelding, a 3-time winner, was bred in Louisiana by Jordan Michael Bertrand.
LTO Thumbs Up (Sir Runaway Dash-AB Creole Lady), Fast Black Hunter (Jet Black Patriot-Fast Prize Robbie), Sir Runaway Cash (Sir Runaway Dash-MCM Premo Dash), A Quick Jewel (Jet Black Patriot-Lummis), Swamp Cartel (Five Bar Cartel-Me And Me Only), MS Diamond Prize (Fast Prize Jordan-MS Diamond Oak) and Swamp Eagle (Heza Fast Dash-Gee Whit) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
last November, scoring by 3 1/4-lengths at Evangeline Downs before rattling off two allowance scores, also at Evangeline Downs, before taking his Feb. 23 trial dash by a head.
“There are no words. I’m speechless,” Lopez shared after the win. “The horse is very good. We took the time with him as a 2 year old and the results speak for themselves.”
Jumonville Farms bred Jess U R Blue out of winner U R Blue. She has produced 100%
money earners from four starters. Jess U R Blue is her first stakes winner.
Runner-up Leavin You Blue (Coronas Leaving You- Thecoloroftheblues), piloted by Ricardo Hernandez Jr., surged late to secure the
place spot for owners Tyler Graham and Diana Brandon and trainer Katie Carlos. A winner of his trial heat, Leavin You Blue was a finalist in the LQHBA Louisiana Million
Louisiana Downs $123,790 • 400 yards :19.803 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
JESS U R BLUE, ‘17-g
Walk Thru Fire
U R Blue
Blues Girl Too
SPEEDHORSE April 2020 165
Hodges Photography Coady Photography