Page 191 - December_2023

Jeriko’s winning connections include owner/breeder Bobby Cox, trainer Heath Taylor, and jockey Jose Nicasio.
Jeriko not only earned $379,533 for owner-breeder Bobby D. Cox, he also receives a provisional berth to the Dec. 9 Champion of Champions-G1.
This was Jeriko’s first stakes victory. In 2022 he had qualified for the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity-G1 and Golden State Million Futurity-G1, finishing second and fourth, respectively, in the finals.
“Obviously, this horse has a lot of talent,” Taylor said. “He ran second last year in the
Two Million, and he got beat by a great horse (Champion Cyber Attack). He just walked out of the gate and had to circle behind horses and still ran second. We really thought the horse had that kind of ability. He’s a small horse. He’s light in stature, but the horse just loves distance. He really, really wants the 440.”
Nicasio was winning his first Los Alamitos Super Derby.
“I had finished second twice before,” the jockey said. “(Jeriko) is a horse who is not the fastest leaving the gate, but we know that if there are no disruptions that he has a good chance to win the race.”
Cox was unable to attend the Super Derby because his Cox Ranch held a celebration of life to honor the late Patricia Melson, wife of longtime Cox Ranch general manager Bill Melson. Patricia died on Oct. 11.
Taylor dedicated the race to the Melsons.
“He has dedicated probably 40 to 50 years to Cox Ranch,” Taylor said. “This is for the Cox Ranch team. They recouped this horse all year after surgery, and he had a rough winter. Juan Vazquez got this horse up. He’s a big part of this team and did a good job. Bill is a guy who helps Bobby breed all the mares, foal the mares, and picks the stallions.”
Taylor noted that Jeriko does better if he does not have to run a trial and then come back quickly for the final.
“I’m really excited about this horse, if he stays healthy, at 4 and 5, especially in the 440 races with no trials,” Taylor said.
Cox bred Jeriko in Texas from Signs Zoomer, who is the dam of Champion The Fiscal Cliff and the second dam of Paint World Champion Signs Of Livewire. A winning half- sister to stakes winners Mr PYC To You, First Painted Sign, and Second Painted Sign, Signs Zoomer has produced 15 winners from 19 starters. In addition to Jeriko and The Fiscal Cliff, Signs Zoomer’s runners include stakes winners Wagon Tales and The Polar Vortex and stakes-placed A Valiant Zoomer.
Francisco Calderon rode second- place Sicario V (Favorite Cartel- Nymph) for Taylor and owner Valeriano Racing Stables, LLC. The gelding previously won the 2023 Rainbow Derby-G1 and Ruidoso Invitational Stakes. He also ran second in the 2022 All American Futurity-G1.
Party Politics (Apollitical Jess- Shanachee), ridden by Jesus Ayala, trained by Juan Aleman, and owned by JGA Racing Stables, Inc., finished third. The millionaire gelding has won the 2023 Golden State Derby-G2 and Dillingham Handicap and 2022 Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1.
Completing the field were Fearless Moon (First Moonflash-Heartbeat), Ghost
Witha Fire (A Revenant-Dash Through Fire), Hes Chickless (Hes Relentless-Chickitita), Navaja (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Flashee), Future Vision (Favorite Cartel-Make Over), and Hes Judgeandjury (Hes Relentless-Crazy Down Corona). Fastest-qualifier Apocalipsis V was scratched.
Trainer Heath Taylor and Jockey Jose Nicasio celebrate the win.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE December 2023 189
William Zuazo, Los Alamitos William Zuazo, Los Alamitos