Jess Good Wine, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, cruises to the top qualifying time for the $478,755 Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park Saturday night.

© Dustin Orona Photography

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 28, 2023–Coming off a win in the $100,000 All American Invitational in last start September 3, Jess Good Wine rolled to the top qualifying time for the $478,755 Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby during five trial races contested Saturday night at Lone Star Park.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return to the Grand Prairie, Texas oval on Saturday, November 18th to vie for the $213,046 winner's purse.

Under jockey Bryan Candanosa, Jess Good Wine dueled early before kicking clear of Market Analysis by 1-1/4 lengths in the third trial. His time of :21.199 seconds, equaling a 102 speed index on a muddy (sealed) track with a 5 mph tailwind, was the fastest clocking of the night.

Im No Lawyer Butt, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, qualifying in the opening trial Saturday at Lone Star Park.
© Dustin Orona Photography

Toby Keeton trains the Oklahoma-bred son of champion sire Good Reason SA for owner Guns Up Racing. Flag Ranch LLC bred the five-time winner from the Mr Jess Perry mare Mr Perrys Wine. Also the winner of the Rainbow Invitational Stakes and second in the Sam Houston Derby(G3) this year, Jess Good Wine has earned $164,757.

Market Analysis, a California-bred son of leading sire Favorite Cartel, held on to second fastest clocking of :21.419 seconds, a 96 speed index for owner MRB Racing LLC.  Trainer Manuel Rodriguez named jockey Esgar Ramirez to ride by colt out of Bartiromo by Walk Thru Fire. Second in the Dash For Cash Derby(G2) in his previous start Market Analysis has earned $62,307. Steve D. Burns DVM is the breeder.

Jes An Angel (#8) defeating fellow qualifier Aristides (#6) in the second trial Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography

Im No Lawyer Butt, from the red-hot barn of trainer Michael Joiner, was a three-quarter length winner in the opening trial to get the third fastest clocking of :21.431 seconds, 1 96 speed index on a muddy (sealed) racetrack with a 5 mph tailwind.

Scott and Jaime Bryant own the One Famous Eagle gelding from the champion producing Carters Cartel mare Cartel Rosie. The four-time winner of $39,090 is bred in Oklahoma by Stone Chase Stables LLC.

Chasing Aj and champion jockey Rodrigo Vallejo qualify in the fourth trial Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography

Champion filly Jes An Angel, under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., won the second trial by a nose over Aristides to get the fourth fastest time of :21.484 seconds. Marc Jungers trains the daughter of two-time champion sire Jess Zoomin for owners Brad Williams and Don Forbes.

Jerry Windham bred the $456,916 multiple graded stakes winner in Texas from the First Down Dash mare Ms Kates Angel.

Coming off a second-place effort in the Grade 1 All American Derby in his last start September 3, Chasing Aj was a half-length winner in the fourth trial to get the seventh fastest time of :21.497 seconds, a 94 speed index with a 5 mph tailwind.

Hesa A Jet One (#6), under jockey Ali Rivera, gets the 10th fastest time in the closing trial. © Dustin Orona Photography

Champion trainer Heath Taylor conditions the Apollitical Jess gelding for owners Steve Holt, Charles Cox, Jack Powers and Roger Moore. Bred in Oklahoma by Don Griffin, Jr., from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye On This Candy, Chasing Aj has won five of 14 starts and earned $694,022.

Hes A Jet One, under jockey Ali Rivera, defeated Delight Interest by a neck in the final trial to secure the 10th fastest qualifying spot with a :21.560 clocking, a 93 speed index on a muddy (sealed) track with a 5 mph tailwind.

Trainer John Stinebaugh, who also saddled eighth and ninth qualifiers Curls Joyful Wagon and Rusted Good, saddled the Texas homebred for owner Pete Scarmardo. A finalist in the All American Derby(G1) he won his last start at Lone Star Park on September 23. Hes A Jet one is by champion Ec Jet One from the Swingin Jess mare Heza Dead Serious.

For a complete list of Texas Classic Derby(G1) qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.