Page 132 - Speedhorse, October 2021

RACING NEWS
Trainer Wes Giles with KJ Desparado.
“He’s my buddy— the only trainer I’ve ever had... He’s probably the best man I know at keep- ing a horse sound. He won’t run a horse that’s not sound.”
- John Lee
to do so against a truly formidable favorite, Jess Savin Candy, who was going for the All American Triple Crown.
Jess Savin Candy had won the Ruidoso Futurity-G1 and Rainbow Futurity-G1. That put him in line to become only the second horse, after Special Effort, to win the Triple Crown if he could add the All American Futurity-G1.
Jess Savin Candy and KJ Desparado were the fastest All American qualifiers on their respective days of trials. The conditions varied greatly between the two days of trials. All five of the second-day qualifiers, including Jess Savin Candy, posted faster times than all of the first-day qualifiers.
“The first day we had a 11 or 12-mile-an- hour headwind,” said John. “The second day
they had a 10-mile-an hour tailwind. That’s two to three lengths difference.”
Adrian Ramos piloted KJ Desparado for trainer Wesley Giles. It would be the first All American for the owners, trainer, and jockey if they could get it done.
Before the start, Jess Savin Candy was a little restless in the gate. But he settled down and came out well. KJ Desparado, meanwhile, had to deal with a distraction when the only horse to his outside, Kat Eye Kylie, bucked
a few strides out of the gate, tossing jockey Ramon Sanchez to the ground.
KJ Desparado didn’t let the incident keep him from his task.
In third early, he put on a burst of speed to catch FDD Scout, who had quickly gone to the lead from the 2-post. At the wire, KJ
Desparado defeated FDD Scout by a neck, completing the 440-yard trip in :21.252.
Jess Savin Candy’s Triple Crown chances ended with him finishing fourth after drifting in late. As a precaution, he was vanned back to trainer John Stinebaugh’s barn.
“I had faith in my horse from the start,” said jockey Adrian Ramos. “He has been strong all season and finally put it all together today.”
KJ Desparado has had more than his share of difficulties during his racing career. He broke his maiden in his trial for the Ruidoso Futurity and qualified for the final after a bumping incident cost him all chance in the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity. In the Ruidoso Futurity final, he got hit twice, once from each side, and ended up sixth.
130 SPEEDHORSE October 2021