JESS HEZ ON FIRE, CACTUS JACK AMONG IMPRESSIVE JUVENILE WINNERS ON FRIDAY NIGHT

         The trials to the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity have come and gone, which means that the juvenile division at Los Alamitos now sets their collective sights on the evening of Sunday, May 30 for the trials to the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity. The weekend at Los Alamitos will flowing with top Quarter Horse juveniles beginning with six races for 2-year-olds contested here on Friday night.

          There were several showstopping performances on display during the card led by Connie Nutt and Turner Farms’ Jess Hez On Fire completely dominating the fifth race on the card. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, the colt by Walk Thru Fire flew from post number one and the race was pretty much decided at that point. Jess Hez On Fire continued brilliantly from there, winning the 300-yard race by two lengths while posting a time of :15.611, which is the third fastest winning time recorded by a 2-year-old at this distance. Val Frida and La Blue Amore are the only divisional runners with faster winning times at 300 yards here. Both of their efforts came when scoring victories in their respective Kindergarten trials.  

          The Turner Farms-bred Jess Hez On Fire was making his second career after posting a solid runner-up effort to Link Newcomb’s Valente One in their debut on April 2. Last week, Valente One qualified to the Kindergarten final. Out of the mare Jess Send Me, Jess Hez On Fire is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 stakes placed runner Jess Macho Corona.

          Ed Allred’s homebred Cactus Jack was impressive in his racing debut when winning at 220 yards by ¾ lengths in the meet’s second fastest winning time by a 2-year-old this season. M&G Farms’ Golden Boi has the top clocking here of :12.081, which Cactus Jack now has the next fastest time after covering the distance in :12.088. The Kiddy Up gelding is out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Bouquet, who was unraced, but has produced the winners Thorny and Roses For All, both of which are full siblings to Cactus Jack.

          Silver Racing Farms LLC’s Fast Thru Fire posted an eye-catching victory as well, as she won her racing debut against a group of fillies by 1 ¼ lengths in a fast time of :15.648 at 300 yards. The Walk Thru Fire filly is eligible to all the major futurities at Los Alamitos. Jose Flores trains the California-bred, who was ridden by Irving Lara. Silver Racing Farms bred Fast Thru Fire.

          Lucky Seven Ranch’s Blues Girls Favorite won the other juvenile race for fillies of the night, an effort that was highlighted by her terrific finish, as she came back from fifth place at the start to win by a head in a 300-yard time of :15.787. Bred by Lucky Seven Ranch, the filly by Favorite Cartel is out of the  2007 AQHA World Champion Blues Girl Too.

          Making his second career start, the One Famous Eagle colt Famous Fantsy Pants won his return bow, as he lead from gate to wire to score a ¾ length win in a time of :15.661. Jesus Rios Ayala guided the Grant Farms-bred runner for trainer Lindolfo Diaz.

              In the remaining freshman race of the evening, Dunn Ranch’s Hallelujah Nights bumped at the start, but he would not be denied on the way to posting a wire-to-wire neck victory in a 220-yard clocking of :12.244. Armando Cervances rode the homebred gelding by PYC Paint Your Wagon, who is trained by Monty Arrossa.

           The freshman division will continue with three races on Saturday night and one more event here on Sunday night. All video works are available for viewing on demand at LosAlamitos.com.

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