Page 176 - Speedhorse August 2018

Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity-RG1
EYSA JESS JUMPN
by Michael Compton
Fastest qualifier Eysa Jess Jumpn notched her first stakes victory in the $700,000 Lee Berwick Memorial Futurity-RG1, which was
contested at Delta Downs on July 7.
Eysa Jess Jumpn made her first start in the
Feb. 24 trials to the Mardi Gras Futurity at Louisiana Downs. She finished seventh and did not qualify.
She then moved to Delta Downs. She ran in the April 27 trials to the Louisiana Breeders’ Lassie Futurity and, again, did not qualify.
She broke her maiden in a 250-yard allow- ance race, winning by a length and scoring a 96 speed index.
Her next out was in the June 16 trials to the Lee Berwick Futurity. There were 14 heats and Eysa Jess Jumpn was in the ninth. The brown filly broke from the two-hole on the lead and received every call. She finished her trial with
a 3/4-length margin in :17.288. She clocked a career-high 101 speed index as well as the fast- est qualifying time to the finals.
Following her win in her Lee Berwick Futurity trial, Eysa Jess Jumpn lost her regular rider as Guadalupe Lucio Jr. was injured in the days following the trial.
Trainer Josue Huitron went to rider David Alvarez. “David has helped us with the babies, so we felt he would be the best choice,” Huitron shared with the media following the race.
Huitron was confident
before the big race, saying,
“We knew very early that she
could run. If she breaks like she did in her trial, she will have a really good chance to win.”
And win she did. With Alvarez pinch- hitting for Lucio, Eysa Jess Jumpn wasted little time asserting her superiority. She broke on top from the three-hole in the 350-yard test. The filly maintained a clear advantage through-
out and again received every call. She had 1/2-length through most of the race and held off a solid effort by Mr Coahuila and Eddie Sanchez as they neared the wire. Eysa Jess Jumpn held on to finish with a head advantage.
Eysa Jess Jumpn covered the distance in :17.408, earning a 97 speed index in the meet’s richest race.
Eysa Jess Jumpn has now crossed the wire first in three straight races. The lucrative Lee Berwick Memorial is the initial stakes score of her career.
The $350,000 winner’s share of the purse increased her career bankroll to $372,800, and her record stands at 5-3(1)-0-0.
Owned by Jose Estrada Quarter Horses, the
filly was purchased by
her connections at the
2017 Louisiana Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Yearling Sale for $11,000.
D & S Racing LLC bred Eysa Jess Jumpn out of two-time winner Jess Jumpn. With a record of 8-2-2-1 and earnings of $11,915, Jess Jumpn quali- fied to the 2012 TQHA Sires’ Cup Futurity-RG2, ultimately finishing seventh in the finals.
As a broodmare, Jess Jumpn has produced two winners from three starters, including win- ner Eysa Jumpn Fast who has earned $28,380. Eysa Jess Jumpn is the first stakes winner in the brood as well as the top money earner.
Eysa Jess Jumpn is by Heza Fast Dash. The sire was also represented on July 7 by addi- tional stakes winner Featuring Fast Jess, who was victorious in the $268,655 Delta Downs Louisiana Bred Derby, and stakes-placed Heza
Delta Downs $700,000 • 350 yards :17.408 • si 97
Heza Fast Man
Heza Fast Dash
First Prize Dash
EYSA JESS JUMPN, ‘16-f.
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Jumpn
Eyesa Jumpn
The winning connections for Eysa Jess Jumpn include owner Jose Estrada Quarter Horses, trainer Josue Huitron and jockey David Alvarez
174 SPEEDHORSE, August 2018
RACING NEWS
Coady Photography