Page 133 - April 2016

Mardi Gras Derby
JESS A SAINT
by Tracy Gantz
Louisiana Downs had to reschedule its Mardi Gras Derby from March 12 to March 20 as part of a multi-card cancellation due to flooding. The race
went off as scheduled the second time, with Jess A Saint taking the victory. Jess A Saint was the Mardi Gras Derby favorite, having won his trial heat wire-to-wire by 1 1/2-lengths for the second-fastest qualifying time from the Feb. 21 trials,
The stallion Jess Louisiana Blue was represented by Jess A Saint and fastest-qualifier My Favorite Blue, and they completed the exacta. Jess A Saint broke
in second, took the lead early in the 400 yards, and held off My Favorite Blue by a neck in :19.891 under jockey Raul Ramirez Jr. Jess A Saint won the $38,786 winner’s share, making his current bankroll $512,202.
Miguel Rodriguez trains Jess A Saint for owner Julio Rios. The gelding won last year’s LQHBA Breeders’ Futurity-RG1 and ran second in this year’s Billy Montgomery Stakes.
J.E. and Bunny Jumonville bred Jess A Saint
in Louisiana from the unraced Thoroughbred
mare Laughing Saint, a daughter of Champion Vindication. Jess A Saint is the mare’s only Quarter Horse starter, and she has an unraced Thoroughbred yearling and Thoroughbred 2 year old.
David Alvarez piloted My Favorite Blue (Jess Louisiana Blue-Dasha Effort) to second for trainer Martin Trejo and owner Tres Ricardos Ranch. Jet Black Zoomer (Jet Black Patriot-Dealazoom) fin- ished third with Antonio Alberto aboard for trainer Kelli Smith and owner Joseph Landreneau.
Followed by Punctuality (Jet Black Patriot- Kay P-TB), Jetz A Streakin (Jet Black Patriot-Ms Janas Perry), Heisa Hot Ticket (Coronas Leaving You-Hottesticketintown), Grants Game (Game Patriot-Jump Down First), Streakin Bye U (Heza Fast Dash-Streakin Bye Salute), and An American Outlaw (American Runaway-Cherished Times).
Streakin La Jolla Stakes
JUMPN STREAK
by Danny Camp
Isn’t it fitting? A grandson of Streakin La Jolla won the Streakin La Jolla Stakes at Louisiana Downs on March 20. Over a fast track and with a 15mph tail
wind, Jumpn Streak stepped away from the 1-post and, with some right handed encouragement from jockey Francisco Ramirez Jr., demolished the field.
Jumpn Streak and Ramirez finished the 400- yard Streakin La Jolla Stakes 1 3/4-lengths in front, stopping the timer at :19.658 and earning a speed index of 101.
The total purse for the contest was $25,000, and the $15,000 winner’s share takes Jumpn Streak’s total bankroll to $102,232. The 4-year-old gelding now has a race record of five wins from 19 starts, including a victory in the 2015 Sam Houston Derby Challenge and third-place finishes in last year’s AQHA Derby Challenge Championship-G3 and Retama Derby Challenge. He was also named the 2015 Texas Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Gelding.
Jumpn Streak is owned by Ovidio M. Sandoval, trained by Josue Ponce, and was bred by Terrazas Family in Texas out of multiple winner Juanas Streak. The mare has produced five starters - all money earners. Jumpn Streak is her top earner and first stakes winner to date.
With steady encouragement from Jorge Galvan, Kool Design (First N Kool-Mitey Good Design) finished second for owner Victor Galvan and trainer W J Simien Jr.
Third place money went to Running Game Patriot (Game Patriot-Eyesa La Tac) for owner Pete A Scarmardo and trainer Dave Correll. Alfonso Lujan had the riding assignment.
The remainder of the field finished like this: Pop Rocket Jess (Jess Pop My Rocket-Mita Jenny), The Golden Bowl (Mr Eye Opener-First Dashin Bye), Rusty Bloom (Jet Cartel-Seattle Bloom TB) and The Lizzard King (Valiant Hero-Jess A Lil Bit).
Eastex Handicap-G2
AJS HIGH
by Michael Compton
Ajs High opened his 2016 campaign with a hard-fought score in Remington Park’s Eastex Stakes-G2 on March 13. The 4-year-old gelding received every call en route to victory.
Away from the races since a 7th-place finish in the Bank of America Challenge Championshio-G1 last Nov. at Lone Star Park, Ajs High fired fresh for trainer Charley Hunt, who had his charge raring to go in his first start in four months.
Michael Teel’s homebred left the gate alertly for jockey Stormy Smith and grabbed the lead at the start. He dueled through the lane, scoring over Bodacious Eagle by a nose at the finish of the 350-yard test. Dismissed as an 11-1 long shot, Ajs High stopped the timer in :17.196, earning a speed index of 98.
In capturing the 6th stakes win of his career— and his 3rd graded event—Ajs High earned the $32,534 winner’s share and increased his bankroll to $362,619 while improving his record to 14-9-0-1.
Bred in Oklahoma, Ajs High is out of 2-time winner Regally Rare, who has proven to be a stellar producer; she is the dam of 11 winners from 12 foals to race.
Eastex runner-up and race favorite Bodacious Eagle (One Famous Eagle-Bodacious Dream) just missed under Ricky Ramirez for owner Johnny Trotter and trainer Trey Wood. Open Me a Corona (Coronas Leaving You-In the Open), ridden by Damian Martinez, battled with the top two finishers throughout and held 3rd for owners Charles Forbes Jr. and Tommy Hays and trainer Bobby Martinez.
Mr Jo Eagle (One Famous Eagle-First Place Diamond), Rock You (Foose-Babe On the Fly), Rockin Disco (Rock Solid Jess-Check This Disco), BP Southern Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Southern Fling), Im Beau Brown (PYC Paint Your Wagon- Special Smoothie) and Last Man Standin (Jodys Money Pop-La Jollas Game) completed the order of finish. Nash Wagon Special was scratched.
Louisiana Downs • $85,329 400 yards • :19.891 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS A SAINT, ‘13-g.
The Louisiana Girl
Vindication
Laughing Saint TB
Devine Laughter
Louisiana Downs • $25,000 400 yards • :19.658 • si 101
Jumpn Chic JUMPN STREAK, ‘12-g.
Juanas Streak
Chicks Beduino Imjumpn
Streakin La Jolla
Juana Dinero
Remington Park • $54,400 350 yards • :17.196 • si 98
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
AJS HIGH, ‘12-g. Regally Rare
Apollitical Time Rare Form
Summertime High
SPEEDHORSE, April 2016 131
RACING NEWS
Lou Hodges Jr/Hodges Photography
Lou Hodges Jr/Hodges Photography
Dustin Orona Photography