Challenge


Favored Jess Good Reason Wins Adequan Derby Challenge Championship
Jess Good Reason, under jockey Oscar Peinado, winning the $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos Saturday night.

© Scott Martinez
Favored Jess Good Reason Wins Adequan Derby Challenge Championship

Q-RACING JOURNAL—OCTOBER 29, 2016—Sent to post as the 8-5 favorite in a field of 11 sophomores, John and Cina Sperry's Jess Good Reason responded with a victory in Saturday's $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos.

Jess Good Reason covered 400 yards in :19.731 and the final 220 in :9.60, and her winning margin was a half of a length from Bf Fooserageous. Oscar Peinado rode the Good Reason SA filly for trainer Paul Jones.

Cina and Tanner Sperry with winning jockey Oscar Peinado. © Scott Martinez
Jess Good Reason was bred in Oklahoma by Preston and Karen Cloud. Campaigned exclusively in California, the filly has won six of her 14 outs and has earned $276,982, and she was coming off of a second-place finish in the 400-yard, $100,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap (G1) for distaffers on September 25. Her resume includes a victory in the Grade 3, 400-yard La Primera del Ano Derby for fillies on April 2.

"She's a super filly," said Jones of Jess Good Reason. "She ran well earlier this year but slacked off a bit. I knew when she ran so well against older mares in the Millie Vessels that she would be ready tonight.

The Oklahoma-bred filly is out of Jess Call Me Tieing, by Feature Mr Jess.

"I have to thank John and Cina, who couldn't be here tonight," he added. "He was one of my first owners, and I owe much of my success to him."

Matthew Fales saddled runner-up Bf Fooserageous for Lessee Kevin Birrell. Birell Farms bred the daughter of Foose from the Proudest Effort mare Bf Outrageous. Ridden by Adrian Ramos the sorrel filly picked up $40,300 for the effort.

California-bred Toughie, who entered the race off a three-race win streak, finished third, a half of a length behind Jess Good Reason. Charles Treese saddled the daughter of Stel Corona for owner Charles Stojan. Bred by Edward Allred, from the Hawkish mare Hard Hitting, Toughie boosted her earnings to $135,570 after pocketing $20,200 for third. Cesar DeAlba was up.

Country Boy 123, Corona Suerte, Keyper, El Compa Jv, Royal Quick Eagle, Lonely In Front Br, For Sweet Jess, and Bm Casina Royale completed the field.

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