JESS DREAM OF ME IMPRESSIVE IN 2023 DEBUT, FLORES SADDLES FIVE WINNERS
Raymond Merrill’s Jess Dream Of Me finished powerfully to win her 2023 debut while capping off a great night of trainer Jose Flores on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.
Jess Dream Of Me, an All American Futurity finalist in 2021, trailed Lex Fabrizio’s One Sweet Duck by ¾ lengths during the early going of the $25,000 Florentine Stakes before turning on the jets during the second half of the 350-yard race in route to an impressive ½ length victory. In the process, the 4-year-old mare by Apollitical Jess scored the first stakes victory of her outstanding career, which also includes qualifying efforts to the Los Alamitos Oaks and Rainbow Oaks.
Bred by Speed LLC, Jess Dream Of Me recorded her fifth victory in 13 starts and her Florentine earnings of $13,750 took her career bankroll to $217,937. Jess Dream Of Me, who ran sixth in the All American Futurity to champion KJ Desperado, was making her first start since last September at Ruidoso Downs. She surely seems to have an affinity for racing at Los Alamitos, as she’s now won three of her five starts at the Orange County track. Ridden by Cruz Mendez, she covered the distance in :17.615. The Florentine featured fillies and mares which had not earned $25,000 in 2023.
As for Flores, who was last year’s leading Quarter Horse trainer, he had quite a successful evening with his starters. Flores finished the night with five winners, the most by any trainer during a single program this season. Thanks to his big night, Flores jumped to the top spot in the current Quarter Horse standings with 37 wins, two more than Paul Jones. In addition to Jess Dream Of Me, Flores also won with Ed Allred and Bradley Hart’s Pragmatic, Johnny Trotter’s duo of Famous Cartel Jessy and Famous Cartelcowgirl, and Clanfield Act Stables’ Good As Candy.
Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, One Sweet Duck earned $5,625 for running second. Ashley Garcia’s All Prettied Up earned $3,125 for finishing third. She Goes Up, Gotta Corona Jess, Icy Morning Breeze, and Apolitical Premier completed the field.
Earlier today, Los Alamitos canceled its Sunday night program due to a forecast of heavy rain and strong winds brought by the approaching Hurricane Hilary. Los Alamitos will resume its live racing program on Saturday, August 26.
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