Page 118 - December 2015

Jess Meche Memorial Stakes
SLEEPERS BEST CORONA
by Tracy Gantz
Sleepers Best Corona began 2015 as a claimer, and he is ending it as a triple stakes winner. The 4-year-old gelding’s most recent stakes victory came in the Jess Meche Memorial Stakes at Evangeline Downs on Nov. 28.
The Meche is carded at only 220 yards. Sleepers Best Corona won the 400-yard Miss Polly Classic at Delta Downs, shortened up to 350 yards in winning the Esplanade Stakes, and shortened up even more for the Meche.
Sleepers Best Corona broke fifth under jockey Alfonso Lujan, but they immediately engaged the leaders. Sleepers Best Corona held off Scoopies Leaving You’s final surge to win by a nose in :11.792.
Javier Contreras trains Sleepers Best Corona for owner Frank Benson. Southern Rose Ranch bred the gelding in Oklahoma and raced him until he was claimed at Remington Park for $20,000. Southern Rose bred and raced the dam, winner Call Me The Sleeper. She has produced three winners from five starters, including stakes-placed Royal Snow White.
Donald Watson piloted second-place Scoopies Leaving You (Coronas Leaving You-Ms Scoopies Toast) for trainer Kevin Broussard and owner Joel Galindo. The colt was coming off of back-to-back victories in the Gentilly Dash Stakes and Evangeline Downs Dash.
Rosouti (Agouti-Rose For Windy) ran third for jockey David Alvarez, trainer Martin Trejo, and owner Rogelio Marquez Jr.
Completing the field were Kerrys Special Crown (Special Crown Royal-Prissy Lege) in fourth, followed by Dontakeyourguns (Jess Louisiana Blue-Down Katella), El Macho Prieto Boy (Hard Hitting-Silk Traffic), King Daddy Dove (King Corona-Jazzing Micki), and Sydney Leigh (First Prize Perry-Include). Chicks Leaving You and Forever Steph were both scratched.
AQRA TUP Open Futurity
HEZA A ROYAL JESS
by John Moorehouse
Top qualifier Heza A Royal Jess prevailed in the $49,257 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity on Dec. 13. A two-year-old gelding home-bred by H&E Ranch, Inc., Heza A Royal Jess notched his first vic- tory in stakes company, and his fourth in six starts.
Coming off a runner-up finish in the AQRA President’s Fall Futurity, Heza A Royal Jess followed up that second-place performance by topping the qualify- ing ladder for this futurity on Nov. 22, covering the 400 yards in :19.860. He wasn’t quite that fast in the stakes final, finishing in :19.926, but still had plenty enough speed to win the race. The gelding broke on top from the 9-hole, led by a 1/2-length at the first call, doubled the advantage as he entered the stretch, then pulled away late to win by a 1 3/4-length margin.
Trainer Pedro Hernandez-Sandoval saddled Heza A Royal Jess, who registered a 96 speed index while bringing home a $24,649 payday that nearly doubled his career bankroll to $41,557.
Jockey Albert Medrano was aboard as Heza A Royal Jess became the first stakes winner out of his dam, Im Royal Satin. The mare is also home-bred by H&E Ranch, Inc., and has five offspring, two who have made starts.
Heart An Soul (Good Reason SA-Already In Love) finished second for owners Carolyn and Ralph Fales. The Matthew Fales trainee had Jorge Bourdieu aboard. Extra Ordinary Perry (Carters Cartel-Juliette Perry) placed third for owner Joel Tellez and trainer Ricardo Saldana. Francisco Giles did the riding.
The remaining official order of finish was Royaltys Lady (Royaltys Choice-Significant Lady), Tres Seis Sky (Tres Seis-Sky Glow), Jess Call Me Fancy (Jess Give It Em-Monique Quick Cash), Swingin For A Moment (Swingin Jess-Dream For A Moment), Shoulda Kissed Me (FDD Dynasty-Love My Corona), DQ’d from fifth to ninth was The Hangover (Tac It Like A Man-Watchin The Rain), & Shes Gotta Reason (Good Reason Sa-Mia Jones).
AQRA TUP Derby
JESS A COWBOY
by Danny Camp
Ten horses earned the privilege of running in the AQRA Turf Paradise Derby on Dec. 6, which boasted a total purse of $37,573.
Fastest qualifier from the Nov. 21 trials, Jess A Cowboy dominated the field in the finals. The geld- ing stepped away from the 9-post on the lead and finished 1 3/4-lengths in front, stopping the clock at :19.507 for his fastest time so far, earning a speed index of 107.
With the first place money of $18,787, Jess A Cowboy has now earned a total of $59,894 for owner Larry Stark and trainer Matthew Fales. Ever since Vince Guerra has taken over the riding assignment the team has won three in a row.
Jess A Cowboy was bred in Arizona by Larry
and Phyllis Stark and is out of Secret Return, who won five stakes races and made almost $75,000. She has produced 100% money earners/ROM. Jess A Cowboy is her highest money earner and only stakes winner also winning this year’s Desert Classic Derby and last year’s AQRA Futurity.
Money Too Burn (Walk Thru Fire-For Love N Money) ran a solid race to finish in second place. His team includes owners Ralph & Carolyn Fales and Elaine Cota-Robles. Trainer Matthew Fales had Justin Shepherd handle the reins.
Up for third was Magical Righter (Righter-BF Fantastic Dream) with a great effort on the end. She is owned by Amanda Casper and trained by Benito Guillen Vega. David Reyes-Frisby was in the saddle.
Flying Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-One Flying Cookie) SGS Victoria (Royal Cartel-Shakin Ana Dashin) El Ice Berg (The Bounty Man-Maur Bug) All Right Now (FDD Dynasty-Already In Love) Chicks Deville (Chicks Regard-La Jolla Sioux) & Dos Tocallos (Jess A Chicks-Fancy Fancy Fancy TB) completed the field.
Evangeline Downs • $15,600 220 yards • :11.792 • si 97
Corona Cartel
Fantastic Polly
SLEEPERS BEST CORONA, ’11-g.
Strawfly Special
Call Me The Sleeper
Coronas Prospect
Wakeup Call
Turf Paradise • $49,257 400 yards • :19.926 • si 96
Mr Jess Perry HEZA A ROYAL JESS, ‘13-g.
Im Royal Satin
Streakin La Jolla Scoopie Fein
Royal Quick Dash Send Me Satin
Turf Paradise • $37,573 400 yards • :19.507 • si 107
Dejon
JESS A COWBOY, ’12-g.
Mr Jess Perry
My Dashing Lady
Canth
Secret Return
Secret Orders
116 SPEEDHORSE, December 2015
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