Page 241 - September 2023

Party Politic’s winning connections, include owner JGA Racing Stables, Inc., trainer Juan Aleman and jockey Jesus Ayala.
Politics started lugging in. “He started changing leads, looking at the rail—he just doesn’t like the rail,” Aleman said. “He just wasn’t comfortable on the rail. You draw where you draw. We got it done today. I’m just grateful.”
Party Politics had a terrific season last year at 2, winning four races and finishing second twice in six starts. Those wins included the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 and Golden State Million Futurity-G1. Though this year’s season hasn’t gone quite as well, Party Politics has still won the Dillingham Handicap, run second in the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G2, and third in the Vandys Flash Handicap. He has raced exclusively at Los Alamitos.
“He’s talented enough to win these kinds
of races any time of year,” Aleman said. “He’s done it before. I felt that if he could just get out clean and not make the mistakes that he did (before) that he would have a shot.”
With the Golden State Derby victory, Party Politics became a millionaire and could add quite a bit more to his bankroll before he’s finished. Aleman indicated that the gelding would be pointed to the Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 trials in mid-October.
“We’ll evaluate him after the race and we’ll shoot for the Super Derby,” Aleman said.
Aleman would love for Party Politics to win the Super Derby, a race the trainer also won with Apollitical Jess in 2010. That was the season that Apollitical Jess was named the World Champion after he closed out his career with a victory in the Champion of Champions-G1.
Apollitical Jess, of course, has also gone on to become an excellent sire. His offspring
include the current reigning World Champion, Empressum, who is also based at Los Alamitos.
J. Garvan Kelly bred Party Politics in Oklahoma, and JGA Racing Stables Inc. bought him for $100,000 at the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
Shanachee won the 2013 AQHA Members Plus Stakes and 2014 Remington Distaff Challenge for Kelly while Aleman was training her. The mare has produced
14 winners from 16 starters, including graded stakes winner O Donovan Rossa (a full brother to Party Politics) and stakes-placed Shannon Power, Racanteur, and Nobby Walsh.
Good Wagon SA (Good Reason SA-Send Me This Wagon), ridden by Ramon Sanchez, trained by Lindolfo Diaz, and owned by J. Francisco Diaz, finished second. Good Wagon SA also ran second in the 2023 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1.
Five Livestock Company’s homebred Chicks First
Flash (First Moonflash-First Prize Chicks) ran third for jockey Armando Cervantes and trainer Monty Arrossa. The gelding has won four stakes, including the 2022 PCQHRA Futurity-G2.
AJ Born Runnin (Apollitical Jess-Runaway
Trs Seis) ran fourth. Hes Chickless (Hes Relentless-Chickitita) finished fifth but was disqualified and placed last for interference. That moved El Aventurero (Docs Best Card-Copauino Diva) into fifth, Tena Rena (FDD Dynasty-Connstantina) into sixth, and Budder Off Friends (FDD Dynasty-Budderfly Effect) into seventh. Mahomes Magic and Wise Lady Dawn were scratched.
Jockey Jesus Ayala and trainer Juan Aleman celebrate victory.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE September 2023 239
William Zuazo, Los Alamitos William Zuazo, Los Alamitos