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Chasing AJ Draws Post 4 for Grade 1, $478,755 Texas Classic Derby
Chasing Aj will nine other 3-year-olds in Saturday's 440-yard, $478,755 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

© Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch
Chasing AJ Draws Post 4 for Grade 1, $478,755 Texas Classic Derby

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–NOVEMBER 15, 2023–Chasing AJ, a gray son of world champion Apollitical Jess and a $95,000 purchase at the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, is one of 10 3-year-olds entered back in Saturday's 440-yard, $478,755 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Trained by Heath Taylor for owners Steve Holt, Charles Cox, Jack Powers, and Roger Moore, Chasing AJ is the seventh-fastest qualifier from five trials run on October 28. The Oklahoma-bred gelding was coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which he ran second, a neck behind winner Whiskey Creek, in the September 3, $1.2-million All American Derby (G1), and third, 1 3/4 lengths behind winner Sicario V, in the July 15, $804,000 Rainbow Derby (G1).

Chasing AJ drew post 4 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.

Other contenders include Guns Up Racing's Jess Good Wine, a multiple stakes winnning Good Reason SA gelding and the fastest qualifier. Trained by Toby Keeton, Jess Good Wine has earned $128,840 from seven races this season, and he won two stakes during the Ruidoso Downs meet, including the September 3, 440-yard All American Invitational Stakes.

Jess Good Wine drew post 2 and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:
  1. Hes A Jet One (Ali Rivera), 20-1
  2. Jess Good Wine (Bryan Candanosa), 1-1
  3. Market Analysis (Esgar Ramirez), 9-2
  4. Chasing AJ (Rodrigo Vallejo), 6-1
  5. Ray Yeigh (Adrian Ramos), 15-1
  6. Jes An Angel (Noe Garcia Jr.), 12-1
  7. Im No Lawyer Butt (Agustin Silva), 8-1
  8. Aristides (Ricky Ramirez), 15-1
  9. Curls Joyful Wagon (Bobby Dow), 20-1
  10. Rusted Good (Francisco Calderon), 20-1

All Lone Star Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.