Jesstafiably Jess edges Apolinaria Prize
JESTAFIABLY JESS UPSETS AQHA CHAMPIONSHIP CHALLENGE
AUBURN, Wash. (Aug. 18, 2024) – Jesstafiably Jess outfinished defending champion Apolinaria Prize and scored a neck victory in Sunday’s $54,708 AQHA Racing Championship Challenge at Emerald Downs.
With Jaime Lopez riding, Jesstafiably Jess ran the 440 yards in 21.84 seconds and returned $23.76 as fourth choice in the field of 10 older horses.
Benito Curiel saddled the winning horse for owner/breeder Malon Cowgill of Junction City, Ore.
An 8-year-old Washington-bred by One Sweet Jess, Jesstafiably Jess earned $25,160 for the victory, boosting his career bankroll to $107,663. It was his first win in three starts in 2024 and 10th in 29 starts overall.
Breaking from the No. 5 post, Jesstafiably Jess had to overhaul Apolinaria Prize in deep stretch to prevail.
“He did start a little slow today, Lopez said in the post-race winer’s circle interview. “But once he got his feet under him, he came to run today.”
Apolinaria Prize, ridden by Cordarelton Benn from the No. 10 post, led past mid-stretch before yielding grudgingly to the winner. A 5-year-old California-bred mare, Apolinaria Prize was unbeaten in four previous starts at Emerald Downs including a one-length victory in last year’s event. Her career mark is 7-1-6 in 22 starts with earnings of $163,019, including $10,939 for Sunday’s runner-up effort.
Marcelino, ridden by Javier Matias, was another length back in third while Dc Ladys Dashn Eagle, Bee a Freight Train, Whiskey Diva, Dr Tool, Dash to the Flash T, Corona Wagon Train, and Gc Harrys Game rounded out the full order of finish.
Bee a Freight Train, the 4 to 5 betting favorite, stumbled badly at the start and rallied late to finish fifth.
The winning time by Jesstafiably Jess is the fastest since a :21.79 by Sorelli in 2016 and fourth fastest in the 14-year history of the race.
Secretarysbestcard (No. 9) prevails in the Juvenile Challenge
SECRETARYSBESTCARD WINS JOHN DEERE JUVENILE
In the $50,952 John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge, heavily favored Secretarysbestcard gained the victory in the 350-yard dash for 2-year-olds, but it was anything but easy.
Ridden by Jose Guerrero, Secretarysbestcard beat Mr Royal Cartel in an extremely tight photo, prevailing by a nose with a winning time of 18.31 seconds.
Owned, bred, and trained by Jose Juan Baca, Secretarysbestcard paid $3.36 as the odds-on choice in a field of 10.
An Oregon-bred filly by Docs Best Card, Secretarysbestcard has won four straight after beginning her career with two straight defeats in Idaho. She now has two stakes wins—Grants Pass Firecracker Futurity, Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge—and overall earnings of $61,300.
Mr Royal Cartel, a 6 to 1 shot, dueled inside the winner throughout and just missed the victory. Ridden by Jaime Lopez and trained by Hector Magallanes, the runner-up earned $10,191.
Eyez On Corona, ridden by Mark Jasso, was a half-length back in third place while The Great One held on for fourth. Rounding out the order of finish were Mighty Panama T, Ccr Political Wrap, Red Rain, Dash Panama T, Soy Catalina, and Dash for Zaylee.
