Page 208 - January 2018
P. 208
Lou Wooten/Sydney Valentini Handicap-RG2
PRINCESS JESSE
by Tracy Gantz
Vance Mikkelson of Belen, New Mexico, likes to give his horses time between races, and it pays off. Mikkelson bred and trains Princess Jesse, who rewarded Mikkelson with
a stellar victory in the $85,000 Lou Wooten/ Sydney Valentini Handicap-RG2 at Sunland Park on Dec. 30. Princess Jesse races in the name of Mikkelson Racing LLC.
“If she breaks, she’s a tough one to outrun,” said Mikkelson. With jockey Alfredo Sigala aboard, Princess Jesse broke on top in the 400-yard race and kept widening her advantage. She won by 3/4-length, stopping the timer in :19.403 and earning a 92 speed index. The $51,000 winner’s share of the purse boosted her total lifetime earnings to $391,415.
“She gives you 110% and she needs time to recover
just like any athlete,” said Mikkelson. “She came into that race feeling really good and everything just fell into place.”
This victory marked Princess Jesse’s sec- ond consecutive win in the Wooten-Valentini. In 2016, she defeated Champion Astica for the win. She also captured the Zia Handicap-RG2, Sunburst Stakes-RG3, and New Mexico State
Fair Breeders’ Derby, all in 2016, and was named the New Mexico Hi-Point 3-Year- Old Filly that year.
Princess Jesse was bred by Mikkelson in New Mexico out of Total Miracle. The multiple graded stakes-placed winner earned $76,898 and has pro- duced 100% money earners from six starters, including multiple graded stakes-placed winner Kaydns Krusader. Princess Jesse is her first stakes winner and top earner.
“We have a full sibling to Princess Jesse coming this year from a recipient mare, and I’m hoping to get another runner,” said Mikkelson.
L.S. Martinez piloted Straw Fly Flower (Dashair- Strawflinfire) to 2nd for Bertha Irigoyen & trainer Rene Saucedo. By By JJ LLC’s homebred Running Dragon (Zulu Dragon-Banking Lane) and David & Sandra Barrett’s Carson City Girl (Woodbridge- Racetrack Barbie TB) dead-heated for 3rd. Running Dragon was ridden by Adrian Ramos for trainer Juan Gonzalez. Esgar Ramirez piloted Carson City Girl for trainer Fred Danley. Followed by Princess Jessie Jane (Jesse James Jr-A Scootin Princess), First Vegas Moon (First Moonflash-Bestseatintown), Lady Version (Winners Version-Numbered Lady TB), First Moon Fire (First Moonflash-Walkin Thru Fire), and Sixie Won (Ketel Won-Shelbys Twiggy). Buildem Fast, Call Me A Blazn Chic & Frost Dalena were scratched.
Sunland Park $85,000 400 yards :19.403 si 92
First Down Dash
Jesse James Jr
A Tempting Chick
PRINCESS JESSE, ‘13-f.
Dean Miracle
Total Miracle
Reckless Coin
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206 SPEEDHORSE, January 2018
RACING NEWS
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