Page 254 - September 2022

RACING NEWS
Adequan PRM Derby Chal.
NOTHIN LIKE YOU
by John Moorehouse
There was no stopping Nothin Like You in the $43,478 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 21. The sophomore gelding registered his third consecutive victory.
A heavy favorite at 1-2 post-time odds, Nothin Like You broke on top from the 4-post and dueled early with stablemate Iza Good Guy. Nothin Like You slipped to second by the first call and remained in that position entering the stretch, then came flying late to get to the wire first by a margin of 1 1/4-lengths.
John Hammes trains Nothin Like You and Stormy Smith had the riding assignment. They completed the 400-yard trip in :19.508, posting a 104 speed index. The $20,435 winner’s share of the purse increased the young gelding’s total bankroll to $185,994.
The victory qualified Nothin Like You to the Adequan Derby as part of the Bank of America Challenge Championship card, scheduled at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 22. Bradbury Racing owns Nothin Like You, who got to the winner’s circle for the sixth time in 11 starts. This marked the third win in stakes company for Nothin Like You.
Thomas Bradbury and Lisa Beauprez bred Nothin Like You and own his dam, Whos Kissin Carter, a 2012 stakes winning mare with earnings of $69,275.
Jess Special Folly V (Apollitical Jess-Special Folly Dash) secured runner-up honors for MOK 4 Racing. The Durk Peery trainee had Jonathan Dominguez in the irons. Iza Good Guy (Jess Good Candy-Iza Doll Face) placed third under Ramiro Garcia. Hammes also trains and co-owns the gelding with Bradbury Racing.
Rounding out the order of finish, Stylish Flash (First Moonflash-Stylish Jess BR) was fourth, followed by Political Fire (Apollitical Jess-Lady Perry On Fire), Trig (Apollitical Jess-Simply Different), Ladyz Secret (Hez Our Secret-Corona Mit Go), Hasta Be Relentless (Hes Relentless-Diva Dynasty), and BHR Light My Spark (First Down Mr Jess-BHR Guys Flash Me).
Cy-Hawk Stakes
IRIS ROYAL JESS
by John Moorehouse
Iris Royal Jess returned to the winner’s circle in the Cy-Hawk Stakes, and got a little payback for last year’s running of this stakes in the process, outpacing CR
Appollitical Joe to take this year’s $25,000 Cy-Hawk at Prairie Meadows on Aug. 6.
Alex Wessels trains Iris Royal Jess, who finished
the 350-yard trip in :17.678, posting a 93 speed index. Cristian Esqueda had the riding assignment, as the gelding banked a $12,250 payday that pushed his total earnings over the quarter-million milestone to $251,644.
Iris Royal Jess finished second in last year’s edition of the Cy Hawk Stakes, losing out to—you might have guessed it by now—CR Appollitical Joe, who entered this year’s version as post-time favorite at 3-10 odds.
Loaded Resume broke on topl and led by 1-length at the first call, but then Iris Royal Jess made his move, overtaking his rival and leading by a head going into the stretch and held on to win by that same margin.
B/B Wessels LLC owns Iris Royal Jess, a seven- year-old gelding who now holds a 12-5-2 record in 19 starts—never finishing outside of the money in his career. Those 12 wins include the 2020 version of the Cy-Hawk, as well as two victories in the Terrace Hill Stakes and the 2019 running of the Polk County Derby.
Bred by Warren Garrels, Iris Royal Jess was foaled out of Pure Royal Dash, a 2001 mare who has produced 9 winners out of 11 starters, with earnings of 520,875.
Also boasting a six-figure bankroll, CR Appollitical Joe (Apolitical Jess-LW Evening Lajolla) finished second for Dick and Curt Tobin. The Jason Olmstead trainee had Edwin Escobedo in the irons. Loaded Resume (Lil Kool Wagon-RU Special) finished third under jockey Randy Vega for owner/trainer Zachary Quezada.
The remaining order of finish was Apollitical Queen (Apollitical Jess-Heros Queen), One Sweet Step (One Sweet Jess-Stepperupper TB), and Gracies Tuition (Lil Kool Wagon-Majestic Jet Black). Kays Dynasty and Streakin Jesszee were scratched.
Mr Jet Moore Handicap-G2
POWERFUL FAVORITE
by Danny Camp
Powerful Favorite showed just how powerful he is with a wire-to-wire victory in the $40,000 Mr Jet Moore Handicap-G2.
Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, the gelding broke on
top and held on throughout to cross the wire with a 3/4-length lead. He completed the 400 yards in :19.484 while posting a 99 speed index for trainer Christopher O’Dell. Powerful Favorite secured the $24,000 winner’s share of the purse for owner Rosenthal Ranch LLC, which boosted his cumulative earnings to $1,121,957.
Raced in California and New Mexico, Powerful Favorite is no stranger to stakes races. The gelding has won 17 races, eight of which are stakes events including the Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1.
James Markum & Steve Burns DVM bred Powerful Favorite out of AQHA Dam of Distinction and 2-time Speedhorse Broodmare of The Year Remember Me Rose. She has won nine races, with four stakes wins including the Ruidoso Derby-G1. She has produced 20 winners from 27 starters. Powerful Favorite is her 7th stakes winner and top earner.
Apolliticalfastprize (Apollitical Jess-Ms Fast First Prize) ran a steady and even race to pocket second place money under Adrian Ramos for owner Ezra Elton Lee and trainer Wesley Giles. The gelding was also second in last year’s All American Invitational.
Midday News (FDD Dynasty-Summer Love Song) made a big effort at the end to get his nose in third place for owners Linda Joiner, Pat Smith, Izora Southway, Holly King and Kelly Allen. The Michael Joiner trainee had Francisco Calderon in the irons. The gelding was coming off a second place finish in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1.
Apollitical Papa (Apollitical Jess-Sissys Tres Girl), Elmer (FDD Dynasty-Treasured Dreams) and Gym N Jam (Jess Good Candy-None As Easy) completed the order of finish.
Prairie Meadows • $43,478
400 yards • :19.508 • si 104
Favorite Trick
Favorite Cartel
NOTHIN LIKLE YOU, ‘19-g.
Carters Cartel
Whos Kissin Carter
Shenoshercorona
Whos Kissin Who
Ruidoso Downs • $40,000
400 yards • :19.484 • si 99
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
POWERFUL FAVORITE, ‘16-g.
Corona Cartel
Remember Me Rose
Shenoshercorona
Im Moonlighting
Prairie Meadows • $25,000
350 yards • :17.678 • si 93
Mr Jess Perry
Captain Courage
Corona Chick Pure D Dash
IRIS ROYAL JESS, ‘15-g. Pure Royal Dash
Go Easy Royal
252 SPEEDHORSE September 2022
Coady Photography
Coady Photography
Bailey Ivey, Ruidoso Downs