Jesstafiably Jess, ridden by Jaime Lopez, wins trial heat and clocks fastest qualifying time to the $40,000 added Bank of America Grants Pass Championship Challenge on Sunday

© Vince & Linda Williams

GRANTS PASS, OR–SEPTEMBER 3, 2023–Two trials were held for the  $40,000 added Bank of America Grants Pass Downs Championship Challenge on Sunday. The top two times came from the second trial heat, Jesstafiably Jess and Messanger. 

Piloted by Jaime Lopez, Jesstafiably Jess made a late surge at the wire for a neck victory over Messanger clocking a 117 speed index. The son of One Sweet Jess set a new track record with the fastest qualifying time in :21.233 seconds. The 440-yard first place finish paid $7.60 to win on 9/5 odds.

The trial win is Jesstafiably Jess' second victory at Grants Pass this season. The multiple stakes winner has eight career wins with $63,817 in the bank. Bred and owned by Mason Cowgill of Washington, the six-year-old Benito Curiel trained gelding is out of Fly Thru Time by Strawfly Special. 

Just a fraction of a second behind Jesstafiably Jess, Messanger clocked a 116 speed index in :21.277 seconds for the second fastest time. The Oregon-bred gelding trained by Hector Magallanes was ridden by Cruz Contreras. He has four wins under his belt with $29,578 in earnings 

Messanger's dam is Cupids Special Fly by Strawfly Special. The six-year-old son of Favorite Cartel is owned and bred by Jeff Ray of Oregon.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $40,000 added Bank of America Grants Pass Championship Challenge Trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be ran on September 17, 2023.