Juan Pulido guided Jessies First Card to a four-length trial victory Friday night at Lone Star Park, leading all qualifiers to the $156,200 Dash For Cash Derby-G2 final on October 5.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 12, 2025–Thirty-seven hopefuls lined up in four trials on Friday night at Lone Star Park to earn a spot in the $156,200 Dash For Cash Derby-G2. When the dust settled, it was Jessies First Card who stole the spotlight, powering away from her rivals in the opening heat to post the fastest qualifying time of the evening. The 440-yard final is set for Sunday, October 5.

Breaking first under jockey Juan Pulido, Jessies First Card wasted no time taking control. The daughter of Docs Best Card never let the field get close, extending her lead with every stride before flashing across the wire four lengths clear of Fast Flyer 123 and Freighttrain V U.

She stopped the clock in 21.326 seconds, earning a 98 speed index—the top mark from all four trials. Trained by Jose Gamez for owners Rito Sosa and Jose Guzman, the filly has been remarkably consistent. She has hit the board in all ten of her starts with six wins and $77,782 in the bank. Four of those victories have come this season, and Friday’s trial score punched her ticket to her first-ever stakes final.

Bred in Oklahoma by Rito Sosa, Jessies First Card is out of Jess Proved Youwrong by Apollitical Jess.

Just Dulce put on a show of resilience in the second trial, overcoming a rough break to deliver his first victory of the season. Piloted by Christian Ramos, the $385,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale graduate surged past his rivals and opened up late, crossing the wire 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Apollitical Time and Tripple D. His winning time of 21.377 seconds, good for a 97 speed index, ranked second overall.

Trained by Marc Jungers for the Just Dulce Partnership, the sorrel colt now has three wins and a runner-up finish from six starts with $45,200 earned and was a finalist in last year’s Rainbow Futurity-G1.

Just Dulce is by Jess Good Candy and was bred in Texas by Bob and Jerry Gaston out of the Tempting Dash mare Prissy Sin Tacha.

In the third trial, Monty Cristo, a $65,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale graduate, proved he belonged among the top qualifiers. With Federico Vargas in the irons, the gelding left the gates and never looked back, stopping the timer in 21.544 seconds for the third fastest overall time.

Owned by Buck Way Ranch LLC and trained by Braulio Hernandez, Monty Cristo is a son of Favorite Cartel. He was bred in Oklahoma by Carlos Hernandez Velasquez out of This Candys Okay, a daughter of Okey Dokey Dale.

Monty Cristo now sports a record of two wins, a second, and two thirds from 10 starts with $33,750 banked. Earlier this year, he finished fourth in the Louisiana Downs Maiden Classic.

Closing the evening with a seasoned performance, Nine One Won captured the last trial to secure a spot in the final field. Guided by Raul Ramirez for trainer Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr., the gelding stopped the clock in 21.624 seconds, the fifth fastest of the night.

Racing for Jimenas Ranch, Nine One Won is by Tempting Dash and out of the Jody O Toole mare Not My Choice. He was bred in Texas by Cindi M. Keeton.

The gelding has lit the board in 15 of his 18 career starts with six wins and $157,818 in earnings. He has already made his presence felt this season with runner-up honors in the Retama Park Derby, a third in the Heritage Place Derby-G2, and a fifth in the Oklahoma Derby-G3.

The finalists are set, and with Jessies First Card leading the charge, the Dash For Cash Derby-G2 final showdown unfolds on October 5 at Lone Star Park.

CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers, including name, time, sex, pedigree, owner, trainer, jockey, and breeder.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this article as soon as it is available from the track photographer.

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