ZOOMIN FOR JESS WITH STRONG PERFORMANCE IN SCHVANEVELDT HANDICAP

        Gary and Jeralyn Messenger’s Zoom For Jess, the winner of the Bitterroot Derby in his last start, took the lead right from the start and never looked back on the way to winning the $25,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap by a half-length over Rocky Mountain Derby winner Favorite Rock on Friday night at Los Alamitos.

          The Blane Schvaneveldt is for horses that have made at least one start this year in the Quarter Horse circuits of the Intermountain region, Northwest, Arizona, Nevada and Canada. The one race minimum requirement is only for 2020 due to the limited racing opportunities in those circuits in the spring and summer because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

          Zoom For Jess’ victory gave trainer Monty Arrossa his third victory in the Blane Schvaneveldt to tie him with Bret Vickery for the stakes record. Arrossa won this race in 2016 with eventual Champion of Champion winner Zoomin For Spuds before winning it with the mare Love To Reason BR in 2018. Zoom For Jess, who picked up a stakes victory here last year in The Plan Handicap, eight of 17 career starts.

          “He’s become really consistent,” Arrossa said. “It’s gotten to where he really likes winning races. We shipped him back up to Idaho and he won the Bitterroot Derby and brought him back, worked him once and worked well. He ran a great race; he had a great break tonight. He beat them at the gate tonight. (Jockey) Armando Cervantes did a heck of a job with him. I’m proud of the job he’s done with this horse. He’s worked really hard and the hard work is paying off.”

          Cervantes, who piloted Curls Happy Wagon to victory in the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on September 20, rode Zoom On Jess to a winning time of :19.942 in the 400-yard race. Zoom On Jess earned $13,750 for the win to take his career earnings to $82,584. Hugo Barron-Sierra’s Favorite Rock, who was ridden by Alejandro Luna for trainer Yanet Rodriguez, earned $5,625 for running second. CM Boom Shakalaka, Staubauch, Game Stealer and Freight Boss completed the field.

-30-