Racing


Jessies First Down Breaks Maiden in $204,715 Hialeah Maturity Sunday
Jessies First Down (#9) gets up over Quick Dynasty (#10) and Daytona B (#1) in Sunday's $204,715 Hialeah Maturity at Hialeah Park.

© Coady Photography
Jessies First Down Breaks Maiden in $204,715 Hialeah Maturity Sunday

HIALEAH, FL—JANUARY 17, 2015—The four-year-old gelding Jessies First Down rallied at the wire to get his first career win in the $204,715 Hialeah Maturity Sunday afternoon at Hialeah Park.

Ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo and trained by Judd Kearl for owner/breeder Ted G. Abrams of Texas, Jessies First prevailed by a neck over runner-up Quick Dynasty while covering the 440 yards in 21.350 seconds. The homebred winner, by FDD Dynasty out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess a Classy Lassy, scored his first career victory and earned $85,980 for the winning connections.

FQHRA President Dr. Stephen Fisch presents the Hialeah Maturity trophy to trainer Judd Kearl and jockey Rodrigo Vallejo. © Coady Photography
Last year's Hialeah Derby winner Quick Dynasty picked up $36,849 to push his earnings mark to $223,448. Anna Marie Crowson saddled the FDD Dynasty gelding for owner Martin Reynoza. Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. had the riding call. William Dale bred Quick Dynasty in Missouri from the Royal Quick Dash mare Royal Quick Glass.

Grade 2 stakes winner and post-time favorite Daytona B led early but could not hold off the rush at the wire. Rolando Almanza saddled the First Down Dash gelding for owner Gregorio Garza. Bred in Texas by Bielau Oaks, Daytona B is out of the Toast To Dash mare Dashing Pana. The $24,566 to third place check brings his earnings to nearly $190,000. Yordanis Amaro was riding.

The official order of finish in the 2015 Hialeah Maturity was: Jessies First Down, Quick Dynasty, Daytona B, Dashin For A Prize, Max Cartel, El Macho Prieto Boy, Royal Fast Jess, Pruittized, Gals Gotta Sizzle, and Cautionsly.