HES CHICKLESS GIVES JERYL HARTLEY A SPECIAL STAKES WIN IN AH SIGH

      Hes Chickless dominated the running of the $30,000 Ah Sigh Stakes from gate to wire to give owner Jeryl Hartley a very special and emotional victory on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

      Hes Chickless’ convincing victory was the first stakes win for Hartley since her husband, Ron Hartley, passed away in late January of 2020. Jeryl and her daughter, Dana Collom, have kept the racing operation going, rarely if ever missing one of their horse’s races in person, and continuing to run a strong stable of runners under the care of longtime training great, John Cooper.

      Hartley’s hot pink silks have continued to reach the Los Alamitos winner’s circle with regularity, Hes Chickless earning them a trophy after his length victory in the Ah Sigh at 350 yards.  

       “This is wonderful, to keep doing what (Ron) loved,” said Jeryl Hartley.

      Ridden by Juan Pablo Leon, Hes Chickless covered the distance in :17.818 on the way to earning $16,500. A finalist to the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, Hes Chickless was picking up his fourth win in six career starts.   

     “He’s been incredible,” Collom said. “As long as he can get out of the gate, get in front, he’ll be hard to beat. This is a special one for us because (mom) has stuck with racing and we’re still breeding. We don’t have as many, we cut way down, but we’re still running them. This is a special one and this trophy will go to the front of the other trophies. The love for the sport is still strong with us, it definitely is.”

       Bred by Ron and Jeryl Hartley, Hes Chickless is by Hes Relentless out of the Hartley’s multiple stakes placed runner Chickitita. The sorrel colt has now earned $49,240 in his career.

        Boardshorts Stables LLC’s AJ Run For Cash, winner of the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass, finished second with Adrian Loza up for trainer Juan Aleman. George and Ruben Villalobos’ Required First, the Governor’s Cup Futurity runner-up finished, was third in the Ah Sigh. Secret Success, Up For Everything, Price Fixer, and Space Flight completed the field.

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