Page 84 - 2 November 2012
P. 84
Hobbs America Derby-G3
JeSS FeAtuReMe QuICk
by Michael Compton
Jess Featureme Quick surprised even his connections with a strong third-place
finish in this year’s $2,235,000 All American Derby-G1 on Sept. 2. He exited that presti- gious race at Ruidoso Downs in fine fettle, and secured a spot in the starting gate for the Oct. 7 Hobbs America Derby-G3 at Zia Park with a solid third-place finish in his trial on Sept. 23, just three weeks after his game effort at odds of 34-1 behind Ochoa in the All American Derby, his late run falling just 1 1⁄4-lengths shy of victory that day.
Bred and owned by Melissa Miller of Belton, Texas, Jess Featureme Quick delivered a stout run in the $197,683 Hobbs America Derby, only this time it was strong enough to come away with the $94,888 winner’s share
of the purse. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, Jess Featureme Quick closed from seventh position early in the 440- yard race to post a neck victory over pacesetter and runner-up Tres Seis Nueve in :21.344.
“He really surprised us in the All American Derby,” said Jones. “He ran much better than any of us expected in that race. He was start- ing to get good prior to that, but he was only the tenth fastest qualifier for the race, so miss- ing second by a whisker was not something we counted on heading into that race.
“He came out of the All American really well,” Jones added. “His third-place finish in the trial was decent, but when he drew post nine for the feature I felt really good about that. He loves to run from the outside. I was confident he could win the race from out there. Ramon (Sanchez) deserves credit as well. He gets a lot of run out of him.”
Out of the Royal Quick Dash mare One Quick Cookie, Jess Featureme Quick is a half- brother to stakes-placed One Famous Cookie, who finished second in the 2010 Hialeah La Nina Invitational and the 2011 South Florida Invitational, both at Hialeah Park, after being claimed by Miller. One Quick Cookie is cur- rently in foal to Tres Seis.
A lifelong horsewoman, Miller acquired One Quick Cookie in partnership with Dr. Theresa Dwyer at the 2007 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. In foal to Separatist, she cost $41,000. It was money well spent.
“Theresa focuses on pedigree and it’s all about looks to me,” Miller said. “I like my race horses to look as nice as my show horses. One Quick Cookie was the last mare we looked at that day at the sale. We both fell in love with her.”
It wasn’t long before One Quick Cookie found herself in the show ring.
“After we weaned the
Separatist baby, we had a month
left to qualify for the World
Show,” said Miller. “It was right
when the AQHA began offering
performance halter classes. We got
her fit in two weekends and she
performed well enough to qualify
for the World Show where she
placed fifth in the inaugural class. We were quite excited.”
“Theresa is more into the racing aspect of it, and she has been around some nice ones,” Miller added. “She probably wasn’t real happy to show her. We agreed after the World Show that One Quick Cookie would stick to being a broodmare, and it wasn’t long before she was back in foal to Separatist.”
The Hobbs America Derby was the initial stakes score for Jess Featureme Quick, who now boasts earnings of $331,982.
“We’re so proud of him,” Miller said. “He’s
a real laid back horse. If you didn’t know him, you wouldn’t think he was a race horse. He is just starting to put everything together. He doesn’t handle traffic real well. He runs through his shoulders and he likes a lot of room to run.
“Everyone loves to win, but when you raise one and plan the mating it means so much more,” she added. “Theresa and I are very hands on owners. We have a lot of blood, sweat and tears invested
in these horses. When you get one to win a race like this and perform like he did in the All American, it provides us a tremendous amount of enjoyment. When his racing career is finished, there’s no telling whether he’ll come home and be a roping horse or handle an English saddle. I just know he will have a
home with us for the rest of his life.” Second-place finisher Tres Seis Nueve
(Tres Seis-Ya Ya Sisterhood) finished a close fourth in the Rainbow Derby-G1 at Ruidoso Downs in July. Jesse Levario piloted Tres Seis Nueve in the Hobbs for trainer Juan Gonzalez and owner Valle Guadiana Corporation. Feature Mr Who wound up third after his
bid flattened out in deep stretch. Feature Mr Who (Feature Mr Jess-Whosleaving Corona) clocked the fastest qualifying time for the race. He is owned and trained by Jaime Dominguez, and was ridden by Esgar Ramirez.
Completing the order of finish were Dashing Spartacus (Mr Jess Perry-Serenity Dash), VGC Moon Walk (Walk Thru Fire- Zevis Lady Love), Feature Mr Bojangles (Feature Mr Jess-Catch This Dash), Executive Brass (Executive Menace-Entrust), RC Black Mamba (Desirio-Hidden Dragon), Lalia (Walk Thru Fire-Clays Knockout), and Fittest (Separatist-Fit and Fabulous).
Zia Park $197,683 • 440 yards :21.344 • si 97
Mr Jess Perry
Feature Me Jess
Brenda Feature
JESS FEATUREME QUICK, ’09-g.
Royal Quick Dash
One Quick Cookie
One Slick Cookie
82 SPEEDHORSE, November 2, 2012
Jess Featureme Quick and Ramon Sanchez scored a neck victory in the Hobbs America Derby-G3.
Racing news
lori Ritz: Coady Photography