Page 181 - October 2023

BIG MOON DAWG
Bby Tracy Gantz
ig Moon Dawg has found his niche racing
around the hook. He improved immediately once he stretched out to 870 yards, and in his very first stakes attempt, he scored in the Sept. 24 AQHA Distance Challenge Stakes-G2 at the Downs at Albuquerque.
When the gate opened, Big Moon Dawg quickly went to the front for jockey Alejandro Medellin, who was riding him for the first time. They led throughout, and though favored Volcoms Favorite challenged along the rail in the stretch, Big Moon Dawg put that rival away to win by 2-lengths in :45.569.
Big Moon Dawg was winning his second race, having broken his maiden at 870 yards at SunRay Park in April in his second try at the distance. The 3-year-old then finished second in two 870-yard allowance races before the Challenge.
Armando Alamos trains Big Moon Dawg
for owner-breeder Steve Berry. Berry bred Big Moon Dawg in New Mexico from the Quarter Horse mare Bundle Doe, a daughter of the Thoroughbred Hennessy. The mare has produced nine winners in 12 starters, including Gunnin For Doe, winner of the 2014 South Valley/Jr. Stables Futurity; multiple stakes winner Movin The Doe; and stakes-placed Showmethedoe.
Gerardo Vera piloted 4-year-old Volcoms Favorite (Jess Good Candy-Volcoms Delight) to second for trainer James Gonzales III and owner Nove Racing. Volcoms Favorite had won three of 13 previous races. Stolin Train (Desirio-Stoli Girl), ridden by Jesus Virgen, trained by Scott Goodrich, and owned by Goodrich Quarter Horses, finished third. Earlier this year, the 7-year-old gelding won the Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge.
A Rebels Revenge (Big Daddy Cartel-Darkies Angel) and Discodancinpatriot (Jettastic-Discuino) finished fourth and fifth.
SHESA RELENTLESS GAL
Sby Tracy Gantz
hesa Relentless Gal has matured into a
consistently good runner. Since last December, she has won five races with one third in six starts. Her latest was her first stakes win in the Sept. 9 Balloon City Stakes-G3 at Albuquerque.
The even-money favorite, Shesa Relentless Gal broke on top for jockey Esgar Ramirez. She never relinquished the lead and scored by a 1/2-length in :19.479 for 400 yards.
Manuel Rodriguez trains Shesa Relentless Gal for owner Elva Rodriguez. The filly’s four-race winning streak began last December in an allowance race at Lone Star Park. She added two allowance races at Sunland Park, won her trial for the Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge Stakes-G3, and then finished third in that final prior to the Balloon City.
Flag Ranch LLC bred Shesa Relentless Gal in Oklahoma from multiple Grade 1 winner A Snowy Cartel. The mare has produced 12 winners in 22 starters, including stakes winners Kiss The Cartel and Dynasty Cartel and stakes-placed Relentless Snow.
Elias Gutierrez rode Hot Girl Summer B (Jess Louisiana Blue-Greystone Girl) to second for trainer Guadalupe Munoz Jr., and owner Highland Park Racing Partners. Hot Girl Summer B ran second
in two earlier stakes. Maka Roon (Eye Am King-C Roon), ridden by Alfredo Sigala and trained by
Joe Honesto, finished third for owner Christian Dominguez-Olivas. The 3-year-old filly, a two-time winner, was making her stakes debut.
Completing the field were Bossa Neauva (Apollitical Jess-J Fire Up), EZ On My Mind (Genuine Strawfly-Shirleys Honor TB), Jessapolliticalgirl (Apollitical Jess-Kirklyns Dynasty), Work Ethic (Seperate Interest-Good Job Honey),
Hs Golden Eagle (Osbaldo-Catchtherain TB), and La Panama West (Panama Wes-Jm The Dance). Ms Flaming Finish was scratched.
JESS THE LEADER
Jby John Moorehouse
ess The Leader tallied his third straight win, all
in stakes company, taking the $56,500 Dr. Glenn Blodgett Stakes-RG3 by a head on Sept. 9 at Lone Star Park.
John Stinebaugh trains Jess The Leader, who broke from the 5 hole and was running in second, a length behind Mo Delirio, at the first call. Ali Rivera, Jess
The Leader’s regular jockey, kept the gelding in second going into the stretch, then moved to the front during the final yards to win by a head. The 350-yard trip took :17.570 and generated a 97 speed index.
Pete Scarmardo home-bred Jess The Leader, a 4-year-old gelding who got to the winner’s circle for the 6th time in 18 career starts. His current win streak represents all his stakes victories; winning the Willie Hickman Memorial at
Sam Houston in June, then the TQHA Classic Stakes-G2 in July at Retama Park. Jess The Leader also has finished in the money in two lucrative Graded stakes: the 2021 TQHA Sale Futurity-G2 and the Texas Classic Futurity-G1.
Scarmardo banked a $35,595 payday that pushed the gelding’s total earnings over the $300,000 plateau to $331,273. He bred Jess The Leader out of Cartel Leader, a 2002 mare.
DM Moonpie (Moonin The Eagle-DM Bella Mia) officially finished second, elevated to the runner-up spot after Mo Delirio (Desirio-Mo Anita Cartel) was disqualified to fourth for interference in the early stretch. Donna Mushinski owns
DM Moonpie, a Kie Mushinski trainee who had Froylan Ramirez in the irons. Won Famous Dash (Giorgino-Lil Famous Dash) placed third for Scarlett Hill Farm, Inc. The Rolando Almanza trainee had Ricardo Garza-Cruz aboard.
Mo Delirio, Vytaliti (Mr Jess Perry-Zenergy), and Dynotron (FDD Dynasty-Tinalicious) completed the order of finish. Tucker Dynasty scratched.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE October 2023 179
AQHA ALB Dist. Challenge-G2
Balloon City Stakes-G3
Dr. Glenn Blodgett Stakes-RG3
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Dustin Orona Photography
The Downs at Albuquerque • $56,100
870 yards • :45.569 • SI 86
First To Flash
First Moonflash
BIG MOON DAWG, ‘20-g. Bundle Doe
Nagano Moon Hennessy TB
Oh Whatta Knockout
Lone Star Park • $56,500
350 yards • :17.570 • SI 97
Mr Jess Perry
Jess Louisiana Blue
JESS THE LEADER, ‘19-g. Cartel Leader
The Louisiana Girl Corona Cartel
Decided Leader
The Downs at Albuquerque • $50,000
400 yards • :19.479 • SI 95
One Famous Eagle
Hes Relentless
SHESA RELENTLESS GAL, ‘19-f.
Corona Cartel
A Snowy Cartel
This Dreams Flying
A Snowy Fling