Page 202 - February 2021

RACING NEWS
Champion of Champions Classic
JAY NUMBER 7
by Luis Prieto Zamudio, translation by Speedhorse
Jay Number 7 completed the 2020 Quarter Horse stakes calendar with this race, which was reduced from 50 to 34 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reserved for horses aged three years and older, the Champion of Champions Classic is one of the few tests at
a distance of 440 yards at the Hipódromo de las Americas. This year, 10 colts and geldings and one filly (Pantera Down Dash) were registered for a total purse of $582,500 pesos (approx. $28,741).
Only One Mc Fling and Jay Number 7
were three years old, with Jay Number 7 win- ning forcefully and cleanly. From the gate, he grabbed the lead and remained there under
the expert command of his jockey Rogelio Sáenz Ortiz, to cross the finish line with a
1 1/4-length advantage over JRS Coronas Shadow, winner of this classic in 2019. In the highlight of his performances, the gelding com- pleted the distance in :21.09 for a career best 102 speed index.
“The horse broke very well, made no mis- takes and we had enough space to win the race. Developing his speed on his own, I only had to
support him, and he didn’t need much encouragement,” said Rogelio Sáenz at the end of the competition.
The winning horse made his way to the winner’s circle in the company of trainer José Eduardo Baltazar Carmona, who received the corresponding trophies with jockey Rogelio Sáenz Ortiz.
His previous starts in
Mexico were in the trials
and final of the El Mejor del Norte Derby (unofficial) at Satevó Race Track in Satevó, Chihuahua, where he finished second for Cuadra Cartas Blancas under José Angel Ambrosio Medina and trainer José Antonio Solé Ceniceros.
His triumph in the Champion of Champions Classic marks his 7th victory in 12 starts, for which he added to his account $291,250 pesos (approx. $14,370), boost- ing his total earnings to $3,835,279 pesos (approx. $200,962). His career in the U.S.
includes victories in the Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge, AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship,
as well as third in the Remington Park Juvenile and fifth place in Heritage Place Futurity-G1.
Bred by Dustin Cox, he is the son of Im A Fancy PYC and out of First Ginlark by My First Moon. He is owned by Cuadra where he is conditioned by
200 SPEEDHORSE February 2021
Jay Number 7 winning the $28,741 Champion of Champions Classic under Rogelio Sáenz Ortiz.
Hipodromo de las Americas
$28,741 • 440 yards :21.09 • si 102
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Im A Fancy PYC
First Prize Fancy
JAY NUMBER 7, ‘17-g.
My First Moon
First Ginlark
Ginlark Perry
Cartas Blancas,
José Angel Santos Zamudio, and was offi- cially trained in this race by José Eduardo Baltazar Carmona.
JRS Coronas Shadow (Coronas Leaving You-Shadow Of Colors) placed second under Daniel Báez Soto. The gelding is owned by Cuadra Los Gavilanes and trained by Rubén Romo García.
The third position was for colt The Deadline (Favorite Cartel-Flying Regal) and Mario Alberto López Marmolejo was at the reins. He
Miguel A. Espinoza/Hipódromo de Las Américas