Page 162 - October 2016

Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity-RG3
AS AND JS
by John Moorehouse
As And Js entered the Black Gold 350 Championship Futurity-RG3 as the biggest underdog in the race, and in the last spot on the qualifying chart. Owner Leonardo Alcala thought his filly would perform above those low external expectations, however,
and he was proven right. As And Js scored an impressive surprise victory in the $303,000 stakes at Will Rogers Downs on Sept. 25.
“We felt one week ago she’s got a big shot,” Alcala said. “I live in Florida and I told my family, ‘Hey, if she breaks out good, she’s going to win.’” That’s precisely what happened, too. As And Js broke on top from the 7-post. The filly ran in front by a head both at the first call and as she entered the stretch. Urged on by jockey Gerardo Garrido, As And Js gained some addi- tional breathing room during the final yards to secure the win by a 1/2-length margin.
Manuel Mata trains As And Js, who covered the 350 yards in :17.600, posting a 93 speed index. That was a significant increase over her :17.948 time in the Sept. 10 trials. The win produced a $121,200 prize that boosted the filly’s total bankroll over $200,000 to $210,886. The win marked the second career win and
the 2011 running of the Oklahoma Futurity-G3. The mare has produced 100% money earners from seven starters, including stakes-
placed Apollitical Knockout who has a pair of runner-up finishes in Mexico. As And Js is her first stakes winner and top earner.
Meserret (Brimmerton-Jess Shakem) secured runner-up honors. Castulo De Jesus Lopez and Marco Antonio Doria, Jr. own Meserret, an R.L. Robinson trainee who had Daniel Torres in the irons.
Darrell Edwards owns third place finisher Carters Thunder (Carters Cartel- Lady Bonafide), who is trained by Donnie Strickland and was ridden by Jesus Salazar.
E Catching Fire (PYC Paint Your Wagon-First Prize Leesa) finished fourth and was followed
by B Double U (PYC Paint Your Wagon-Sixes Fisher), Knockemount Capi (Capo De Capi- Eyesa Knockout), Cartel Envy (Carters Cartel- Crazy Down Corona), JM Texas Dominyun (Dominyun-Texas Lucky Lady), Widows Devil (Valiant Hero-Wicked Seis) and Fast Prize Ferarri (Tac It Like A Man-Ferarri Fast Prize).
first in stakes company for
As And Js, who also finished
fourth in the Remington
Park Oklahoma Bred
Futurity-RG2 back in April.
Alcala noted that the filly got the second-fastest time in qualifying for that event, but finished fourth after “she made some mistakes.”
Following that first stakes, Alcala decided to rest his filly for a few months. He felt that her relatively slow effort in qualifying was because of the layoff.
“That’s what happened. She hit a lot of air,” he said. “But then [in the futurity], she proved that she’s one of the best. After the race, she was really strong. I got a text this morning that she came back good.”
Future plans for the filly include a return to Remington Park and, if things go well, she will head for Ruidoso Downs and attempt to qualify for the All American Derby.
“After the race she looked really strong,” Alcala added. “She’s got more to go.”
Five Puig Racing, LLC bred As And Js and owns the filly’s dam, graded stakes winner Adolph Tres Knockout. She won
As And Js (#7) and jockey Gerardo Garrido go for a wire-to-wire win in the $303,000 Black Gold 350 Futurity-RG3
160 SPEEDHORSE, October 2016
Will Rogers Downs $303,000 • 350 yards :17.600 • si 93
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
Apollitical Time
AS AND JS, ‘14-f.
Tres Seis
Adolph Tres Knockout
Oh Whatta Knockout
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Coady Photography