Page 61 - January 2016 Speedhorse

qualifying time for the Los Alamitos Million Futurity and placed second in the finals, finishing the year with $333,820.
In 2010, he won six and placed second
once out of eight races. He clocked the fastest qualifying time for the All American Derby
and again took second place in the finals. Upon returning to California, he earned the fastest qualifying time in the Los Alamitos Super Derby and won the finals by 1 1/2-lengths, setting a new track record in the process and qualifying for the Champion of Champions, which he won by 1/2-length, setting another track record of :20.93, which still stands. “This was a beautiful race,” Juan says. “It was very exciting because some of the great horses of the time participated, including Freaky, A Tempting Dash, Good Reason SA, Jess You And I and Spit Curl Diva.”
That year, Apollitical Jess grossed $1,066,011 and was named AQHA 2010 World Champion and Champion 3 Year Old, and Champion 3-Year-Old Colt. “With this, I had surpassed all my dreams, thanks to the work of my trainer, Juan Aleman; his team of workers; and his jockey, Eduardo Nicasio,” says Juan.
Apollitical Jess retired to stud at JEH Stallion Station in Oklahoma in January 2011 and currently has two crops of race-age foals with earnings exceeding $5 million. “It’s always nice to stand a World Champion,” says JEH owner Jim Helzer,“ particularly one with the breeding potential he has. I’m very selective of the horses I choose and he’s one of the best that has come along. We’ve proved that. He finished his freshman year as 2014 Leading Freshman Sire and in 2015, he topped the list of sophomore
Juan Tirado, wife Armida, and daughter Maily accept the trophy for Apollitical Jess after winning the 2010 Champion of Champions and setting a New Track Record that still stands today.
sires and stands fourth on the year’s list of overall Leading Sires (by money earned).”
“It’s been very nice to see Apollitical Jess’
foals racing,” Juan adds. “My family and I enjoy watching them as if they were our own, and I feel very happy when I see their owners celebrating their triumphs. I’m very grateful to all those who have trusted in Apollitical Jess and bred their mares to him; he’s a great champion with great conformation, and just like his mother, Apollitical Time, he ended his race career totally healthy.”
ANOTHER STAR IS BORN
In March 2012, Brazilian Dasher (Fishers Dash - Dinastia Toll BRZ) foaled Apollitical
Jess son Apollitical Blood, whom Juan calls “Torito” (Little Bull) for his width and strength. Owned on a foal share with Juan’s friends, Bruce and Jill Thompson, Apollitical Blood qualified for four Grade 1 futurities in 2014: the Ed Burke Million, the All American, the Golden State and the Los Alamitos $2 Million. The colt took second in the Golden State and returned as a 3 year old to post the fastest qualifying time in the 2015 All American Derby trials, winning the final with a strong 1 3/4-length victory.
“It was a very exciting afternoon because five years ago in this very race, his father, Apollitical Jess, despite having had the fastest qualifying time, finished the final second,” Juan says. “Apollitical Blood came to regain the victory that had escaped his father.”
After his All American Derby win, Apollitical Blood traveled to Lone Star Park and ran away with his 2015 Texas Classic Derby trial, winning by 3 3/4-lengths on a soaked track in blowing
Apollitical Blood, by Apollitical Jess, won the 2015 All American Derby. He will stand his first year at stud in 2016 at Robicheaux Ranch.
rain, a factor that may have influenced his sixth- place finals finish.
Having accumulated a 14-6-2-1 record and $1,519,800 in earnings in just two years on the track, Apollitical Blood travelled to Robicheaux Ranch in Louisiana to embark on a new career in the stud barn.
“Racing Quarter Horses have been some- thing precious in the lives of my family and myself,” Juan says. “The faith and enthusiasm that we put into our horses has been compen- sated greatly with all these successes. We’re grateful to God for all that He has blessed us with. The moments of joy we’ve experienced with these wins have been unforgettable, and our house is filled with photos and trophies for all these achievements. I’ve always thought it’s so important to live life with dreams and emotions; the quality of life increases when you have these things — you’re happier. I understand that sometimes the results aren’t in our favor, but by always keeping the faith and having perseverance, someday we can all achieve our goals.”
Call it luck or call it divine blessings that have flowed from honesty, faith, gratitude and diligent effort, Juan has been richly rewarded in the racing business.
Apollitical Jess, who retired to stud in 2011 to stand at JEH Stallion Station, is the sire of over $5 million from only 2 crops to race.
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