Jess Drive Tops Dash For Cash Derby Trials at Lone Star Park

Jess Drive turned in the fastest qualifying time Friday night as four trials were contested for the $150,000-est. Dash For Cash Derby (G2) at Lone Star Park.

The trials, contested at 440 yards for 3-year-olds, determined the 10 fastest qualifiers who will return for the Dash For Cash Derby (G2) final on Saturday, October 10.

Jess Drive delivered the night's fastest performance in the third trial, pulling ahead late to defeat Docs Magic Card by one length. The bay gelding stopped the timer in :21.656 while racing into a 4-mph headwind.

Claudio Ponce Aguilar rode Jess Drive for trainer Victor G. Fierro and owner Eleazar Martinez, Sr. Richard and Janelle Simon bred the Louisiana-bred son of multiple stakes sire You Drive I Fly from Jonna, by Spit Curl Jess.

A $18,000 graduate of the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale, Jess Drive improved his career record to four wins, one second and two thirds from 11 starts and has earned $57,372. He was third in the TQHA Sires' Cup Derby (G3) earlier this year and was also a finalist in the Sam Houston Derby (G2).

Docs Magic Card, who finished second to Jess Drive in trial three, posted the second-fastest qualifying time of :21.806. The 3-year-old filly battled on the front end before yielding to the winner.

Adrian Hernandez owns Docs Magic Card, who is trained by Braulio Hernandez and was ridden by Angel A. Fierro. Pierre and Leslie Amestoy or Irving Fournier bred the New Mexico-bred daughter of multiple stakes sire Docs Best Card from Silk Stocking Street, by Ivory James.

Docs Magic Card sold for $10,000 at the 2026 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. She has compiled a record of one win, three seconds and one third from six starts while earning $24,285. She was a finalist in the Gillespie County Fair Derby.

Royalist posted the third-fastest qualifying time when he drew clear to win the fourth trial by three-quarters of a length in :21.809 while facing a 5-mph headwind.

Luis L. Vivanco rode the sorrel colt for trainer Ben Olaveson and owner Hector Reina. Veronica Gail Kawananakoa bred Royalist in California. The 3-year-old is by leading sire Corona Cartel from Zigfield Follies, by One Famous Eagle.

A $120,000 graduate of the 2024 Los Alamitos Equine Sale Mixed Sale, Royalist has won six of 13 career starts with four seconds and earnings of $180,469.

Ding Dang Dulce rounded out the four fastest qualifiers after surging late to win the opening trial in :21.825. Forced inward early, the sorrel gelding tipped outside before finishing strongly to defeat Aj Big Cash by a neck while running into an 8-mph headwind.

Fernando Fonseca-Soto rode Ding Dang Dulce for owner-trainer Haley N. Hobbs. Neff Hogue Farm LLC bred the Oklahoma-bred son of Dulce Sin Tacha from Valiant Strawfly, by Valiant Hero.

Ding Dang Dulce was a $10,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate. He has won eight of 15 career starts with two seconds and one third and earnings of $116,246. His stakes résumé includes victories in the Northlands Futurity and Canterbury Park Derby. He was also second in the Laico Bird Stakes (G3), third in the East Jet Stakes (RG3), and a finalist in the Mr Master Bug Stakes (G3).

The remaining qualifiers, in order of time, were Aj Big Cash (:21.867), Rf Runaway Cowboy (:21.872), Karma Cha Ching (:21.891), Expenssive Boots (:21.900), Toby Two (:21.911), and Brother Gaga (:21.941).

Rf Runaway Cowboy won the second trial in :21.872.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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