Page 248 - September_2023

RACING NEWS
TQHA Classic-RG2
JESS THE LEADER
by Michael Cusortelli
Jess The Leader, a homebred racing for Pete Scarmardo of Caldwell, Texas, won the 400- yard TQHA Classic Stakes-RG2 for Texas-breds at Retama Park on July 28.
Racing against a reported 10-mph head wind, Jess The Leader defeated Won Famous Dash by
a head in :20.537. Ali Rivera rode the gelding for trainer John Stinebaugh.
Jess The Leader is out of Cartel Leader, a winning daughter of the Holland Ease stallion Corona Cartel who ran third in the 2005 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge-G3 at Sam Houston Race Park and was a finalist in the ’04 Texas Classic Futurity-G1. The gelding traces back to his fourth dam, a winning daughter of the Three Chicks stallion Chick’s Deck who ran third in the 1980 Blue Ribbon Futurity.
Jess The Leader was six weeks removed from his nose victory in the 400-yard $55,000 Willie Hickman Memorial Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. All told, the gelding has won five of his 17 outs – including four of eight at the 400-yard distance – and the $37,500 winner’s share of the $62,500 TQHA Classic purse pushed his bankroll to $295,678.
Jess The Leader’s stakes resume includes a third-place finish, 1 1/2-lengths behind winner and Champion KJ Desparado, in the 2021 Texas Classic Futurity-G1 at Lone Star Park.
Won Famous Dash (Giorgino-Lil Famous Dash) was second for owners, Scarlett Hill Farm Inc. and Los Sauces Racing LLC. Ricardo Garza-Cruz rode the gelding for trainer Frank Mendez. DM Moonpie (Moonin The Eagle-DM Bella Mia) finished third for owner Donna Mushinski. Froylan Ramirez rode the gelding for trainer Kie Mushinski.
Valentino Pete (Hes Relentless-Mystical Eye) finished fourth and was followed by Moonin My Memories (Moonin The Eagle-Good Ole Memories).
TQHA 550 Stakes-RG3
ONTHROCKS
by Michael Compton
Safe to say, Onthrocks is becoming a 550-yard specialist. The 4-year-old gelded son of A Revenant captured the $54,250 TQHA 550
Stakes-RG3 at Retama Park on July 28, to remain perfect at the distance following a victory in the Sam Houston 550 Stakes in his previous start in June.
Ridden by jockey Raul Ramirez Jr., who
was aboard for the previous stakes win as well, Onthrocks broke alertly and dueled for the lead away from the starting gate in the TQHA 550 Stakes.
In a determined effort, he forged to the front in
the lane and edged clear late to score by 3/4-length as the odds-on favorite in a compact field of five.
In winning his second straight stakes event at 550 yards, Onthrocks stopped the timer in :27.919 and earned a 94 speed index.
A homebred for Ware Racing and Ranching LLC, Onthrocks is trained by Esteban Rubio. The win, his fifth overall, improved his record to 13-5- 4-1 and the $32,550 winner’s share of the purse increased his bankroll to $108,637.
Bred in Texas, Onthrocks is produced out of the unraced Stoli mare Stol A Bunny.
Runner-up DM Frankie Blue Eyes (Fast Prize Jordan-DM Maryanna) dueled throughout under jockey Jose Herbert and finished a game second. Campaigned by Jesus Betancourt, the 3-year-old colt is trained by Juan Hernandez. The sorrel colt was bred in Texas by Donna Mushinski, who also owns and bred third-place finisher DM Preacher Man. With jockey Froylan Ramirez aboard,
DM Preacher Man (A Revenant-Mary La Jolla) finished a 1/2-length behind the runner-up for trainer Kie Mushinski.
EM Jess Ronas Cash (Jess Lips-Ill Paint The Town) and Eagles Shot (This Is An Eagle-Tamy’s Shot-TB) completed the order of finish. Viva Le Don was scratched.
TQHA Sale Juvenile
CLASSYLOOKINGCHICK
by Michael Cusortelli
Classy Looking Chick, racing for Josefina Guzman, extended her win streak to three races with her clear 2-length victory in the $56,736 TQHA
Sale Juvenile Stakes at Retama Park on Aug. 5. Prepped by Juan Diaz Jr. and racing against a
reported 10-mph head wind, Classy Looking Chick covered 350 yards in :17.680 while recording a 102 speed index. Juan Pulido rode the filly, who banked $19,858 from her first career stakes score.
Classy Looking Chick was bred in Texas by Scarlett Hill Farm Inc., and she was a $10,000 purchase at last year’s TQHA Yearling Sale. The filly is out of Menacing Looks, a winning homebred daughter of the Chicks Beduino stallion Executive Menace. Her second dam, the winning and graded stakes placed Sticks An Stones mare Sticky N Picky, was a finalist in the 1993 Rainbow-G1 and Texas Classic-G1 futurities.
Raced exclusively in Texas, Classy Looking Chick has won three of five races, and she broke her maiden with a 1 3/4-length victory in a 300-yard dash for maiden claimers ($25,000) at Sam Houston Race Park on May 20. The filly’s earnings total $40,398.
Classy Looking Chick was sent to post as the even-money favorite in the field of seven. Liberater (This Is An Eagle-Liberte) banked the $15,886 runner-up share of the purse for his owner, Jesus Molina, who purchased the gray gelding for $13,500 at last year’s TQHA Yearling Sale. Eric Reyes rode Liberater for trainer Janessa Muniz.
Celeste Martinez’s Chapmann (Duponte- Diamonds For Codee) ran third, three lengths behind Classy Looking Chick. Jose Herbert rode the bay gelding for trainer Juan Diaz Jr.
GJR Rooster (This Is An Eagle-Granny Grump), Ensignia (Duponte-Celtic Emblem), Andretty (Duponte-Go You Must), and Ladys Gotta Jet (EC Jet One-Lady Lilia) completed the order of finish.
246 SPEEDHORSE September 2023
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Retama Park • $54,250
550 yards • :27.919 • SI 94
A Revenant ONTHROCKS, ‘19-g.
Stol A Bunny
Mr Jess Perry
Thewayouwantmetoo Stoli
On A Bunny
Retama Park • $62,500
400 yards • :20.537 • SI 87
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS THE LEADER, ‘19-g. Cartel Leader
The Louisiana Girl Corona Cartel
Decided Leader
Retama Park • $56,736
350 yards • :17.680 • SI 102
Corona Cartel
Thrill And Grace
CLASSY LOOKING CHICK, ‘21-f.
Executive Menace
Menacing Looks
Mister Fulton
Sticky N Picky