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NEW LEASE ON LIFE FOR OH JESS FLY IN 870-YARD RACES
Oh Jess Fly, under jockey Bonifacio Perez, winning the Grade 3 Herman Jefferson Stakes at Zia Park Saturday.
© Coady PhotographyHOBBS, NM—OCTOBER 12, 2013—Oh Jess Fly began competing in hook races just last year and completed his transformation to an 870-yard specialist on Saturday by winning his first stakes at the distance in the $55,000 Grade 3 Herman Jefferson Stakes at Zia Park Racetrack & Casino.
Oh Jess Fly's career was beginning to stagnate last year when he did not make the winner’s circle for 18 months and had just three wins in 16 Quarter Horse sprints. So trainer Jose Barron tested him around the turn for the first time in a claiming race at Arapahoe Park in August 2012.
In seven 870-yard starts, Oh Jess Fly now has four wins and three seconds. The 5-year-old gelding owned by Hugo Sierra captured his first career stakes on Saturday with a gate-to-wire victory by 1 1/4 lengths with Bonifacio Perez aboard as the 2-1 second choice in 44.857 seconds.
Weetona Stanley bred Oh Jess Fly in Oklahoma from the Dash For Perks mare Oh What A Perks. The $33,000 Herman Jefferson winner's purse boosted his career total over $115,000.
Fishin For Dough was second as the longest-shot in the field of seven at 18-1 ridden by Francisco Giles for trainer Hermenegildo Aldavaz. Victor Diaz owns the Fishers Dash 3-yar-old out of the Thoroughbred mare Simply Groovy, by Groovy. Francisco Giles had the riding assignment.
Run Dj Run took third for jockey Casey Lambert and trainer Lupe Munoz. Defending champion Im Royal Quick, who had swept both open 870-yard stakes races last year at Zia in the Herman Jefferson Stakes and King Rick Rack Stakes, finished fifth.