ZM Jess Scores First Career Victory In Desert Classic Derby At Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch

PHOENIX, AZ–FEBRUARY 21, 2026– ZM Jess broke through for his first career victory Saturday afternoon at Turf Paradise, leading from wire to wire to capture the $35,000 Desert Classic Derby at 350 yards.

Ridden by Cerapio Figueroa, ZM Jess broke sharply from the rail and set the pace throughout, drawing clear late to win by 1/2-length. The bay gelding stopped the clock in :17.551 seconds, earning a 95 speed index over a fast track under clear skies.

Owned by Jose Juan Martinez and trained by Havid Canez, ZM Jess is sired by Jess Different, a half-brother to champion and world champion sire Uncle D, and is out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Jess A Blue Tac, a winner and stakes finalist. Bred by Francisco Molina, the gelding improved his record to 8-1-4-1 with the win. He previously finished second in the 2025 Desert Classic Futurity and third in the 2025 Arizona QRA Futurity. The $20,650 winner’s share boosted his lifetime earnings to $50,407.

The winning connections of ZM Jess accept the $35,000 Desert Classic Derby at Turf Paradise on Saturday.© Hodges Photography

Cyber Courage finished second under Brandon Guevara after ducking in at the start before rallying late. Owned and trained by Alex Torres-Casas, the gelding is by Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity winner Cyber Monday, whose first two crops have produced more than $1 million in earnings. Cyber Courage, his top earner, is out of the Captain Courage mare Tinys Courage, a winning mare who finished fourth in the Gopher State Derby. He now holds a record of 4-1-2-0 with earnings of $130,092 and remains in search of his first stakes victory. The gelding is a $45,000 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale graduate. 

Block N Tell completed the trifecta under Blake Nunnally. The gelding is by champion sire Tell Cartel, a stallion whose three crops have already produced more than $1.2 million in earnings. Out of the Takin On The Cash mare Watchin The Rain, winner of the Lassie Futurity, Block N Tell has hit the board in all of his starts in 2026. He now owns a record of 9-1-2-3 with earnings of $22,627. Last season he finished third in the Arizona QRA Juvenile and fourth in the Desert Classic Futurity.

Alitlelesstalk finished fourth, followed by Master Of The Craft, Hw Tellum Sweetly, Touch Base, First Down Karma, and Mw Wishin Fora Daddy. Kams Cartel was scratched.

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