Just Dulce, with Christian Ramos aboard, drives clear late to win the Grade 2 Dash for Cash Derby at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 4, 2025–Just Dulce proved his potential Saturday night at Lone Star Park, earning his first career stakes victory in the $156,200 Dash for Cash Derby-G2 for 3-year-olds.

Despite a slight bump from the gates, Just Dulce settled quickly under Christian Ramos and surged ahead in the final stretch to defeat Nine One Won by a neck. He completed the 440-yard distance in 21.453 seconds, posting a 96 speed index and returning $5.60 to win.

Trained by Marc Jungers for Just Dulce Partnership, the Jess Good Candy colt earned $67,266 for the win, bringing his total to $112,466. Bred in Texas by Bob and/or Jerry Gaston, Just Dulce is out of Prissy Sin Tacha by Tempting Dash.

The connections of Just Dulce accept the trophy after winning the Dash For Cash Derby-G2 on Saturday at Lone Star Park. © Dustin Orona Photography

A $385,000 purchase from the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Just Dulce has now started seven times with four wins and one second. Lightly raced as a juvenile, he was a finalist in last year’s Rainbow Futurity.

Runner-up Nine One Won ran a game race to the wire under Raul Hernandez Jr. for trainer Raul Ramirez and owner Jimenas Ranch. Cindi Keeton bred the son of Tempting Dash in Texas out of Not My Choice by Jody O Toole.

Nine One Won added another strong performance to an already impressive 3-year-old campaign. This season, he has finished second in the Retama Derby, third in the Heritage Place Derby-G2, and fifth in the Oklahoma Derby-G3. From 19 starts, he has six wins, four seconds, and six thirds, with earnings of $184,372.

Monty Cristo completed the trifecta under Federico Vargas after breaking on top and holding on for third. The brown gelding bred in Oklahoma by Buck Way Ranch LLC is out of This Candys Okay by Okey Dokey Dale.

Trainer Braulio Hernandez saddled Monty Cristo for owner Carlos Hernandez Velasquez. He was a $65,000 sale graduate at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The son of Favorite Cartel has now started 11 times with two wins, one second, and three thirds, earning $49,370. He previously qualified for both the Retama Park Derby and the Louisiana Downs Maiden Classic.

Completing the order of finish is Apolitical Time, Rockin the Train, Fire Is Burnin, Chill to the Bone, Sweet Pie Corona, Jessies First Card. (Flyn Jesse James scratched.)

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