Page 193 - August 2019

Desert Classic Derby
JESSA CAT
by Tracy Gantz
Jessa Cat became the first Quarter Horse to
win a race at Arizona Downs after the track reopened on July 20. It had originally shut down in late June, but secured a new investor.
The card began with several Thoroughbred races before Jessa Cat captured the $16,625 Desert Classic Derby. With Kevin Carbajal in the saddle, Jessa Cat broke out of the gate quickly and o the lead. Ur My Favorite tried to catch her, but Jessa Cat held on by a neck and completed the 350-yards wire-to wire in :17.480 for a 111 speed index. She added $9,144 to her coffers with this win, taking her record to 9-4(1)-3(1)-1 and $29,036 banked.
Jose Botello trains Jessa Cat for owner Eulalio Juarez. The filly began racing at Los Alamitos for her breeder, William Dale, with Botello taking over as her owner/trainer when she began racing in Arizona.
Jessa Cat also finished second in the 2018 AQRA Turf Paradise Futurity. Juarez has owned Jessa Cat for both of her victories at Arizona Downs.
Dale bred Jessa Cat out of Jessa Runner. She has produced 100% money earners from three starters. Jessa Cat is her first stakes winner and top money earner. The second dam is multiple graded stakes- placed Loose Lips.
Ur My Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Prima LD) finished in second place under jockey Martin
Osuna for Valerie Velazquez and trainer Armando Castellanos. The filly won the 2019 Robert Huebeck Stakes. Rigoberto Guillen owns and trains third- place finisher El Saucito (Favorite Cartel-Sonora Cartel), and Mark Jasso piloted the gelding. El Saucito previously was third in the Robert Huebeck Stakes. Followed by Curious George Jr (Jesse James Jr-Cute N Rimen), Harem Bar Cartel (Five Bar Cartel-Harem Carver), Mr Pura Vida (Five Bar Cartel-Jess A Fling) and PCR Americanfighter (Brookstone Bay-Ya Gotta Wantit).
Granite Mountain Futurity
DETERMINED COWBOY
by Tracy Gantz
Switching from Turf Paradise to Arizona Downs agreed with Determined Cowboy. He pulled off a perfect double at the latter track, winning the Granite Mountain Futurity after scoring a 1 3/4-length win in his June 22 trial as the fastest qualifier.
That trial performance attracted the bettors’ inter- est, as they sent Determined Cowboy off as the 7-10 favorite in the final. Their support was well placed. Determined Cowboy, ridden by Martin Osuna, bounded to the lead despite bearing out. He completed the 350 yards in :17.932, winning by a 1/2-length.
Armando Castellanos trains Determined Cowboy for owner Valerie Velazquez. Determined Cowboy brought a record of one trial win and a fourth in the John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge from Turf Paradise to Arizona Downs. He now has three wins in four starts and the $14,878 winner’s share takes his earnings to $21,305.
Jon Mixer and Dan Ward bred Determined Cowboy out of winner Shes Western. She has pro- duced 100% money earners from four starters, two of which are winners. Determined Cowboy is her first stakes winner and top money earner.
Michael Ybarra rode Pollitical Blood (Apollitical Blood-Rita Regent) to second for owner Juan Clark and trainer Havid Canez. Pollitical Blood won the John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile Challenge. WR Jokers R Wild (Fantastic Corona Jr-Ja Desert Flight), who broke his maiden at Arizona Downs on May
27, finished third. Jesus Osuna rode the gelding for owner Joel Tellez and trainer Angel Dominguez. Followed by Jessapolitical Guy (Apollitical Jess- Famous Corona Lady), Scandalous Dasher (First Down Dash-One Famous Ermana), Apollitical
Run (Freighttrain B-Oneapolliticalflight), Two More Shots (Tempting Dash-Fontanas Stoli) and Survivour (Reagal Eagle-Banking Disco). I Roll Like That and Lsglory were scratched.
Spencer Childers CA Brds. Ch.-RG1
HE LOOKS HOT
by Tracy Gantz
He Looks Hot continued his amazing career with
a victory in the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders’ Championship Handicap-RG1 at
Los Alamitos on July 27. Now 7, the gelding has sur- vived three colic surgeries and has earned $1,295,930. Dr. Ed Allred, who owns and bred He Looks
Hot, was one of the late Spencer Childers’ closest friends, so the win was especially sweet.
He Looks Hot, winner of the 2017 edition, took the lead almost from the outset as the 6-5 favorite. Ridden by Vinnie Bednar, he fought off closers to score by a neck, finishing the 400 yards in :19.628 and posting a 96 speed index.
Scott Willoughby trains He Looks Hot for Allred. He Look Hot also won the 2014 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1, 2016 Vessels Maturity-G1 and Nutrena Stakes, 2018 Robert L. Boniface Invitational Championship-G1, and 2019 Moonist Handicap.
Allred bred He Looks Hot in California out of multiple stakes-winner Look Her Over. The mare has produced 15 winners in 17 starters, including multiple stakes winners Once Over and Take A Look and five stakes-placed runners.
Paul Jones trains and co-owns second-place
Eyes The Favorite (Favorite Cartel-Eyesa Painted Bug) with Bradbury Racing. Carlos Huerta rode the 4-year-old gelding, who earlier this year ran second in the Brad McKinzie Winter Championship Stakes-G1.
Tarzanito (Favorite Cartel-Ancient Empress), Champion Aged Stallion of 2018, finished third with Eddie Garcia aboard. Yanet Rodriguez trains Tarzanito for owner A1A Racing LLC.
Completing the field were Da One Two Special (Two Corona Special-Da One), Chicks Fayvorite (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell), Rite Regal (Favorite Cartel-A Regal Classic), Black Fryday (Favorite Cartel-Ruths Chris) and Yanque (Favorite Cartel- Red Hawk Chick).
Arizona Downs • $16,625 350 yards • :17.480 • si 111
Stray Cat JESSA CAT, ‘16-f.
Jessa Runner
Storm Cat TB
Your First Moon
Mr Jess Perry
Loose Lips
Arizona Downs • $27,050 350 yards • :17.932 • si 97
One Famous Eagle
Hes Relentless
DETERMINED COWBOY, ‘17-g.
This Dreams Flying
Shes Western
Western Challenge TB Jerrys Jewel
Los Alamitos • $100,000 400 yards • :19.628 • si 96
First Down Dash
Sweet Beduino Check Him Out
Walk Thru Fire
HE LOOKS HOT, ‘12-g. Look Her Over
Oh La Proud
SPEEDHORSE, August 2019 191
RACING NEWS
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Coady Photography
Los Alamitos