TALENTED FEATURE MR JESS MARE WINS MERIAL CALIFORNIA IN STYLE
LOS ALAMITOS, CA — AUGUST 22, 2009 — No boys? Oh boy! Stylish Jess Br showed why she is considered one of the premier aged mares in the nation by posting a tremendous victory in the $25,226 Merial California Distaff Challenge on Friday at Los Alamitos.
Owned by Benny Rossett and bred by Dr. James Burgess, Stylish Jess Br had to love going against mares after facing the best older boys in the land in several Grade 1 races at Los Alamitos this year.
The daughter of FEATURE MR JESS was fourth to millionaire champion gelding Jess You And I in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship and fifth to track record holder Freaky in the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity in her start prior to the Merial Challenge.
But facing tough boys has been nothing new for the ever-impressive superstar mare. Last year, she was second to champion colt One Famous Eagle in both the Grade 1 Golden State Derby and the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. She also ran in the prestigious Champion of Champions won by Jess You And I, finishing seventh on that night after a very troubled start.
Leave her against her own sex and Stylish Jess Br is pure dynamite. As a 3-year-old she defeated older mares to earn her Champion of Champions berth with a 3/4 length win in the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap. Her win in the Merial was just an impressive, as she defeated Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap winner Terrific Energy by a length while covering the 400-yard distance in :19.348 with jockey Cesar De Alba in the irons. She is trained by Paul Jones, who could not be on hand for the Merial final, as he was at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico saddling five qualifiers to the All American Derby, including fastest qualifier Fantastic Corona Jr.
After the Champion of Champions on December 13, the connections of Stylish Jess Br could have opted to run her against mares in the Charger Bar. But the timing of the race did not seem to fit her racing schedule.
"She's not a very big mare," said Vince Genco, who manages Stylish Jess Br for Brazilian owner Rossett. "She usually needs some time to recover after her races. She's never ducked a horse before. She's gone against boys a lot and has done herself proud. We loved the way she ran tonight. She did it pretty easy. She left the gate flying. I don't think Cesar ever used the stick. We are probably going to run her in the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap (September 19) next. We'll see if she can defend her stakes title and we'd love to earn another berth to the Champion of Champions."
A couple of things now appear to be certain for Stylish Jess Br. First, she will be one of the feature attractions in the $200,000 Merial Racing Challenge Distaff Championship on October 31 at Los Alamitos. Secondly, she will very likely be bred to 2006 All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here in 2010. Rossett co-owns No Secrets Here with Vessels Stallion Farm.
"Benny already bred Strength In Numbers to No Secrets Here," Genco said. "We have three embryos out of her and I can't wait for those babies to be born. Stylish Jess Br will be next for No Secrets Here."
Genco was joined in the winner's circle by his longtime friend John Andreini and Andreini's ranch manager Danny Cardoza. The trio was in a great mood, not only thanks to Stylish Jess Br, but also thanks to the accomplishments of Fantastic Corona Jr. Genco and Andreini co-own the colt who covered the 440 yards in :21.131 en route to the fastest derby qualifying time. Gianni Franco Samaja is the third member of the ownership group on Fantastic Corona Jr.
"It's been a good day," Genco said. "I just hope we can keep it rolling. Fantastic Corona Jr beat the World Champion Stolis Winner in his trial and it was a tough trial. It's been a fun day and a pretty good night."
Jones, meanwhile, has now won the California regional test for distaffers four straight years. The past three years, Jones won this race with Blazin Fire, the gutsy champion aged mare in 2007, which is enjoying some time off and could still return to the races at some point in 2010 according to reports.
For now, the California Distaff Challenge crown belongs to Stylish Jess Br, a mare who will certainly not backed down from any challenge, whether it comes from a male or female rival.
Stylish Jess Br earned $12,355 for the win to take her career earnings to $563,684. She has won seven of 18 starts, while finishing in the top three a total of 15 times.
Parsons Family Trust's Terrific Energy, who was making her first start since winning the Charger Bar, ran a solid second for trainer Chris O'Dell. The Mildred Vessels also figures to be the next stop in her racing schedule.
Terry Thompson and Paul Jones' Shescheckinumout finished third.
This Seis Can Race, Three Green Leaves, Loved Her First and Jess Another Chick completed the field. Dimples First Dash and Shelbys Surprise were scratched.
