GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas (Saturday, November 19, 2022)
The 11 race card at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie featured five stakes races, including the richest race in Texas, the $1.2 million Texas Classic Futurity (G1).
The betting public was dialed in on the races, as the wagering favorite won all five stakes of the night and nine of eleven overall.
The $56,000 Yellow Rose of Texas Stakes saw Ss Classyjess jump out to an early lead and dominate the field. The six-year-old mare by Rock Solid Jess crossed the finish line an impressive 2 1/2 lengths in front of the second place runner, covering the 400 yards in :19.651 with Luis Vivanco aboard. This was the 25th win for Ss Classyjess from 50 starts. Trainer Jose Carrizales said that this would be the final start of her career.
In The $58,500 B.F. Phillips, Jr. Stakes, Jet Black Grace overcame a mediocre start to win by a half length. This was the first time the 2021 Heritage Place Futurity winner had raced since a fourth place finish in the 2021 Texas Classic Futurity last November. Juan Pulido was in the irons for trainer Santos Carrizales, Jr.
The team of Juan Pulido and Santos Carrizales, Jr. continued their winning ways in the $63,640 Texas Classic Juvenile. San Lorenzo Ivory broke well out of the gate and edged away to a 3/4 length victory giving the gelded son of Ivory James his fifth win from eight starts.
In the $412,569 Texas Classic Derby, Kj Desparado ran an overpowering race with Adrian Ramos in the saddle. The gelding by World Champion Apollitical Jess went straight to the lead and would not be challenged. This was his twelfth win in seventeen career starts. With this win, Kj Desparado joined Mr Jess Perry, PYC Paint Your Wagon and Flying Cowboy 123 as the only horses to pull off the Texas Classic Futurity/Derby double. Wesley T. Giles trains for John Lee, Wanda Kathy Lee and I. Ruben Mares.
The richest race in Texas, the $1,209,173.91 was won by the fastest qualifier to the Futurity, Rock a Jess V. The gelding by World Champion Apollitical Jess was the third stakes winner of the night for Juan Pulido and Santos Carrizales, Jr. Covering the 400 yards in :19.500 gave Rock a Jess V a 1/2 length victory over two other horses trained by Santos Carrizales, Jr., Turcotte and Fancy Scarface. The winner's share of $538,082 pushed his lifetime earnings to $675,823 in nine career starts.
There were 3,923 in attendance for the card. Total handle was $865,555. Racing resumes at Lone Star Park at 6:05 p.m. on Saturday, November 26.
