HIALEAH, FL—JANUARY 15, 2012—Lisa Joneson’s Ann Jemima, trained by Guillermo Valdivia and ridden by red-hot rider Alex Baldillez, Jr., proved best after a rousing race-long duel with Iama Pyc to prevail in Sunday’s 1st running of the $20,000-added Perseverance for fillies and mares by a neck.

Ann Jemima, bred in Oklahoma by her owner, is a four-year old mare by Country Chicks Man – Mea Brick House, by Rare Form. She was sent postward in the Perseverance as a 2.40-1 favorite and stopped the timer in :16.577 seconds for the race distance of 330 yards.

Sunday’s added-money victory was her second consecutive win at the meeting as she stretched out from an allowance win at 220 yards here on Christmas Eve. She won for the fourth time in 18 lifetime starts and earned $13,425 for her connections. The brown miss has total earnings of $55,267.

Iama Pyc is a 4-year-old Pyc Paint Your Wagon filly owned by Jose Vasquez and trained by Juan Aguirre. Ridden by Oscar Hernandez, the gray filly picked up $4,475 for her second place effort. Euguen Hill bred her in Oklahoma from the Mr Eye Opener mare Iama Eye Opener.

While the top two finishers were battling it out for the win, the goings-on behind them were equally eventful. Original third-place finisher Mary’s Corazon was disqualified after lugging in and placed eighth. After that change, the revised order of finish was Ann Jemima, Iama Pyc, Eye Opening Favorite, and a dead-heat for fourth between Kinky Boots and Jacis Flashy Girl.

Eye Opening Favorite, by Mr Eye Opener out of Political Favorite by Apollo (TB), races for Dan Frazier and is trained by Matt Frazier. Bred in California by Vessels Stallion Farm, she earned $2,238. Shanley Jackson was up.

Completing the order of finish were Go Mary Be Famous, Aquafina, Marys Corazon and One Famous Cookie. Before the race, First Time Favorite was scratched at the gate by order of the stewards when she became cast in her stall.

Meantime, leading rider Baldillez recorded his second “five bagger” in two weekends to up his victory total to 19, five better than Brian Theriot and seven up on 2010-2011 riding champ Oscar Delgado.

The total mutuel handle for the 17th day of the 2011-2012 Quarter Horse season was $179,450 with live racing on a gorgeous Sunday afternoon witnessed by a festive throng estimated at 4,000.

Live racing resumes at Hialeah Park Friday January 20 with a new post time for the remainder of the season. From Friday forward, through closing day February 19, first post will be at 2:25 PM ET. The racing office plans to schedule nine races on Fridays and 10 races on Saturdays and Sundays.

This palatial South Florida facility will also be open for full-card simulcast wagering Monday January 16, with wagering offered on cards from such well-known tracks as Gulfstream Park and Santa Anita.