Page 188 - Speedhorse September 2017

John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge
JESS ADALIDA
by Danny Camp
Three is Jess Adalida’s lucky number. The filly came in with the third fastest time after win- ning her July 29 trial heat in the third race of the day, and she drew the 3-post in the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge on Aug. 12.
Jess Adalida broke sharply on top and slipped to 2nd at the 1st call under rider Luciano Duenez. The filly drove to the finish line and completed the 350 yards 1 1/2-lengths
in front, stopping the clock at
:17.637 and earning a career
best 102 speed index.
The $32,085 winner’s share of the $69,750 purse ups her bank account to $47,511. Her record is now 6-3(1)-2(1)-0, with a 2nd
in the West Texas Juvenile Stakes at Sunland Park earlier this year. Her connec- tions include owner David L. Martinez and trainer Antonio Delgado Sr.
Adequan Retama Park Derby Challenge
“This is the best horse I’ve ever ridden,”
said jockey Luciano Duenez. “I had to get after her a bit in the trials because we were racing
the clock. In the (West Texas) Juvenile, she
did most of it on her own. She came back really good after the trials. She’s always calm around the barn and calm in the gates. She’s a good ride.
“David Martinez is a good friend of mine,” the jockey continued. “He
including stakes-placed runners Fate Cant Weight, Jess Bring It, Stel Worth It and Coach Carter. Jess Adalida is her top earner and first stakes winner.
Mystical Jess (Apollitical Jess-Traffic Juana) was 2nd under Damian Martinez for owner Juan Lozano & trainer Josue Ponce. Roses Dancer (Chief Corona-Roses Three Dancers) was 3rd under Modesto Pina for owner Lovel A. Blain III & trainer G. Hunt. Tempting Mary (Tempting Dash-Streakin O Toole) was 4th, in a DH for 5th was Ivory Noche (Ivory James-Tres Dia Noche) & The Cartel Warrior (The Louisiana Cartel-Ace Winema), followed by The Lady Is Dealin (Dealagame-Lady Lilia), Rock On Zoomer (Rock Solid Jess-Ought To Be A Zoomer), Tres Generales FTL (Captain Courage-Royal Quick Dreams) & Shimmy Dasher (Down N Dash-Abajos Doll TB).
Retama Park $69,750 • 350 yards :17.637 • si 102
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
The Louisiana Girl
JESS ADALIDA, ’15-f.
First Down Dash
Wortherweightingold
Gold Daze
bought the filly in Oklahoma for $10,500 and now we are looking down the road at the Dash For Cash. Francisco Calderon had ridden this filly before and told me how to ride her and that helped a bunch.”
Jess Adalida was bred in California by Double Bar S Ranch out of graded stakes-placed winner Wortherweightingold. The mare has produced 100% earners from six starters,
ONE SWEET MERLOT
by Danny Camp
It was a sweet victory for One Sweet Merlot in the 400-yard Adequan Retama Park Derby Challenge on Aug. 12.
The fourth-fastest qualifier from the July 28 trials, One Sweet Merlot stepped away from the 5-gate well in the finals. Jockey Noe Villatoro urged the gelding and the pair flew late in the stretch with a gritty performance, finishing in front by a neck. The duo stopped the clock in :19.973, earn-
ing a 96 speed index. The
$26,662 winner’s share of
the $57,960 purse pushed
the gelding’s earnings to
$90,736. He now owns a race
record of 8-4(2)-1-1(1). One
Sweet Merlot, who is owned
by David Jones & Mark C.
Cowan and trained by Trey
Ellis, also won the 2016
Retama Juvenile Challenge
and was third in the 2017
Sam Houston Derby-G3.
186 SPEEDHORSE, September 2017
“He’s a good one,” said Ellis. “He bounced back after the trials like a champ. He doesn’t break real sharp, but the further he goes down the track, the better he likes it. He’s easy to train and trains like an older horse. He is class all the way around.
“David Jones and Mark Cowan are great owners,” the trainer continued. “They are cowboy
of $118,065 and the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby-G3. The mare has produced 100% win- ners from three starters, including top earner and graded stakes-placed Boxwineizfine. One Sweet Merlot is her first stakes winner.
Eagle Cry (One Famous Eagle-Checknbac) was 2nd under Damian Martinez for owners Irma Z. & Giovanni Vargas and trainer Rolando Almanza. Trashy Tres (Tres Seis-Jess An Illusion) was 3rd under Juan Vasquez for owner Jerry Windham and trainer Leon Bard. Followed by Apollitical Girl (Apollitical Jess-HRH Midnight Express), Deala Quick Game (Dealagame- Quickid Perry), Jayronimo (Jess Zoomin- Dashing Patriot), Jess Kicked A Gear (One Sweet Jess-Quiet Courage), Walk Off (Walk Thru Fire-Jenuine Joy), Queen Dinasty (FDD Dynasty-Queen Then And Now) & Desdemona Rambler (Tempting Dash-Kritters Effort).
kind of guys, real
quiet and just nice guys. We are looking at Prairie Meadows for the Challenge finals in the next couple of weeks.”
When asked about rider Villatoro, he said, “You might look down the shed row and see Noe washing leg wraps
or cleaning up. Hes a young hard working kid and nice to have around.”
One Sweet Merlot was bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC out of 2-time stakes winner Onemoreglassofwine, winner
Retama Park $57,960 • 400 yards :19.973 • si 96
Mr Jess Perry
One Sweet Jess
One Sweet Dash
ONE SWEET MERLOT, ’14-g.
Heza Fast Dash
Onemoreglassofwine
Fine Wines
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