Jess Good Candy and jockey Ivan Carnero in the post parade prior to winning the 2015 $3 million All American Futurity(G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

© Cristian Molina

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 16, 2015—The 2015 All American Futurity(G1) winner, Jess Good Candy, is set to make his 2016 debut in the $70,000 Mr Master Bug Stakes for Oklahoma-bred to be contested on Sunday, April 24, 2016.

Bred by the late Carl Pevehouse and owned by PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC, the son of Good Reason SA stormed into racing headlines last Labor Day weekend with a surprising victory in the $3,000,000 summer classic at Ruidoso Downs in Ruidoso, New Mexico.

Since the victory, the colt hah recovered from a small surgery on his ankle and had a bit of a turn out this winter in Oklahoma. Trainer Clint Crawford looked to give the futurity winner some time away from the racetrack before going back into training for the 2016 campaign that was set to begin at Remington Park.

"He has been training very nicely since we got him here to Remington," said Crawford. "We couldn't be happier with how he is moving across the track in the mornings. We are just hoping to get a good break away from the gates in the Mr Master Bug, because the race is only 350 yards. He will have to get away good to have a good showing in the race."

With the conclusion of the draw today for the April 24 Remington Park race card, Jess Good Candy drew the sixth post-position in a ten horse field for the 2016 edition of the Mr Master Bug Stakes, with jockey Ivan Carnero aboard. The field also attracted the likes of 2015 Heritage Place Futurity winner, BV Midnite Express, as well as third-place finisher in the Rainbow Futurity(G1), My Royal Wagon.

"If all things go well in the Mr Master Bug we will probably see him next in the Ruidoso Derby(G1) trials, and look to qualify into the finals," said Crawford. "We will then sit and wait on the trials for the All American Derby(G1)."