Marco Hernandez’s Tres A Jess picked a fine time for his first career win, as the colt by One Sweet Jess pulled away late to score an easy victory at 14-1 odds in the $51,332 John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge on Saturday night.

            With Jonathan Roman up for trainer Roman Figueroa, Tres A Jess led right from thestart and eventually found a higher gear to post 1 ½ length win in the 350-yarddash. In the process, the Arizona-bred upset 1-2 favorite Apollitical Patty,who came into this race as the fastest qualifier and unbeaten in three starts. Getting the best of Apollitical Patty was a daunting task, but Tres A Jess delivered from post number six.

            “I loved it, I loved it,” Figueroa said. “When you enter in race you have a chance. That’s what I always say. I’m just glad we got a good trip and got to the winner’s circle.”

            “It was a lot of hard work and effort,” said Roman, who has ridden Tres A Jess inall three of his starts. “He’s been a good horse in the morning and has comeback well after his race. He had a good gate today, flew out of there and then took off.”

            TresA Jess finishing second in his racing debut on July 19 before returning with athird-place finish to Apollitical Patty in the trials to this race. He hadstrong efforts in both starts and took it up a notch in the final. With thevictory, the Gustavo De La Torre-bred runner earns a berth to the John DeereJuvenile Championship to be held on October 24 at The Downs at Albuquerque.Tres A Jess earned $23,612 for the win.

            Walker Family Trust’s Apollitical Patty finished in a dead heat with Robert Gutke’sRoyal Racy Perry for second place in this race. They each earned $7,700 fortheir effort. Delila Rose, KR Frosty, Transcendeur, Jess Beautiful Fire and Ms Racy Eagle completed the field.

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