Page 155 - November 2017

Autumn Handicap
JESSTACARTEL
by Tracy Gantz
Jesstacartel is on a roll, making it three in a row at Los Alamitos when he won the Oct. 14 Autumn Handicap for 2-year-olds. He has steadily climbed the ladder, winning a maiden race in his second start, adding an allowance race after that, and then scoring in his very first stakes attempt.
Ridden by Cruz Mendez for the first time for trainer Mark Skeen, Jesstacartel broke in fourth and kept improving his position. He got to the lead midway through the 350 yards and then held off Summertime Favorite to win by a neck.
The gelding stopped the timer in :17.571 and earned a career high 94 speed index. The $16,500 winner’s share pushed his earnings to $26,700.
Lesley Joyner bred Jesstacartel in Utah and owns him. Joyner is married to former Major League Baseball player and All-Star Wally Joyner. Wally played most notably for the California Angels, whose stadium isn’t far from Los Alamitos.
Jesstacartel is the first foal and starter out of the Joyner homebred mare Stolmeacartel.
“He’s just so gutsy—he tries so hard,” said assistant trainer Holly Skeen. “This is a great group of horses, but he always works so hard. He’s been so much fun.”
Summertime Favorite (Favorite Cartel- Summertime Quickie), bred, trained, and co-owned by Paul Jones, ran second with Jesus Ayala aboard. Thompson Racing Inc. also owns the filly.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Tustin Kid (Kiddy Up-Register To Win) finished third for jockey Jesus Canales and trainer Scott Willoughby.
Perfect Az Can Be (Texas Icon-Jess Perfect Girl), McFarland USA (First Moonflash-Mama Said
Run), Indios Zactag (Caritas-Be Mysterious TB), Effortless Effort (Favorite Cartel-Madonna Effort) & Knockout Jess (One Sweet Jess-Whatta Knockout) completed the order of finish.
Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap
JESS A COWBOY
by John Moorehouse
Jess A Cowboy rustled up his second consecutive stakes win, and the seventh stakes victory of his career, in the $20,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap at Los Alamitos on Oct. 6.
Jess A Cowboy broke second from the inside starting gate, but quickly grabbed a lead he never would relinquish. The gelding opened a 1/2-length advantage as he entered the stretch and doubled that separation by the time he reached the finish line.
Cruz Mendez rode Jess A Cowboy to victory, completing the 400 yards in :19.915, registering an 88 speed index and producing an $11,000 payday that boosted his total bankroll to $166,858.
Home-bred by Larry Stark and trained by Matt Fales, Jess A Cowboy now holds nine wins in 24 total starts. This marked his third victory in stakes company of 2017; the 5-year-old gelding also won this year’s Turf Paradise Championship Challenge, as well as the He Flys Handicap at Los Alamitos.
Larry & Phyllis Stark also bred Jess A Cowboy’s dam, Secret Return, a multiple stakes winner owned by Ralph & Carolyn Fales. Secret Return posted 5 stakes victories as part of a 27-race career that reaped nearly $75,000 in total earnings. Secret Return has produced 100% earners from eight starters, including Cowgirl N Up, who won the Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge earlier this year. West/South West Hi-Point 3-Year-Old Gelding Jess A Cowboy is her top earner.
Jess A Lil Fishy (Apollitical Jess-Lil Fishy) finished second for Joseph Ward. The Christopher O’Dell trainee had Cody Jensen in the irons. Justified (Foose-Special Wave) placed third under Eduardo Nicasio for owner Tim Holdaway and trainer Monty Arrossa.
Wilmas Alright Now (Im Alright Now-Wilma The Wizard) & Show Me Bofum (Ivory James- Shez Changing Ways) completed the field. Block N Tackle scratched.
Kip Didericksen Handicap
STELLUR
by John Moorehouse
Five Livestock Company LLC produced the win- ning horse in the Kip Didericksen Handicap for a second straight year. This time, Stellur made a driv-
ing rally to win the $16,000 stakes at Los Alamitos on Oct. 6.
Monty Arrossa trains Stellur, who broke from the 3-gate and was running third both at the first call and as he entered the stretch. Jockey Cesar DeAlba urged Stellur into a late rally, as he surged into the lead and made it to the finish line first by a head.
The post-time favorite at 2-1 odds, Stellur finished the 350-yard event in :17.845, earning an 86 speed index. He also became the first stakes winner out of his dam, stakes-placed RW Red Wave, who has foaled two starters/winners. A three-year-old gelding, Stellur logged his sixth career victory in 17 starts, and marked his first win in stakes company. The $8,800 payday improved Stellur’s total earnings to $33,834. The gelding also finished second in the 2016 Roche Equine Futurity.
Stellur followed in the footsteps of First Prize Chicks, who won this same race for Five Livestock Company in 2016. This marked his return to the Southern California track after spending the previ- ous six months on the road racing at four different tracks in three states.
Vista Equine Colorado LLC owns RW Red Wave and co-bred Stellur with Paul Jones.
Jere Brinkerhoff owns and trains runner-up Buckshot Cartel (SS Samson-Monday Night Miracle). Jesus Canales drew the riding assignment.
Youre Gonna Mish Me (Coronas Leaving You-Le Mishka) finished third for Jose Cordoba Romo. The Ramiro Zuazo trainee had Cesar Franco in the irons.
Alegendinmytime (Carters Cartel-Sixarun Bug) was fourth, followed by Kipassured (Kipas Special-Jess Assured) and Cypress Sally (Winners Version-Luscious Legs) who finished in a dead heat for fifth.
Los Alamitos • $30,000 350 yards • :17.571 • si 94
One Sweet Jess JESSTACARTEL, ’15-g.
Stolmeacartel
Mr Jess Perry
One Sweet Dash Stoli
Buena Cartel
Los Alamitos • $20,000 400 yards • :19.915 • si 88
Dejon
JESS A COWBOY, ‘12-g.
Mr Jess Perry
My Dashing Lady
Canth
Secret Return
Secret Orders
Los Alamitos • $16,000 350 yards • :17.845 • si 86
Stel Corona STELLUR, ‘14-g.
Corona Cartel
Our Lips Are Sealed
Wave Carver
RW Red Wave
Babyigotchamoney
SPEEDHORSE, November 2017 153
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