Jh Blood Sweatandtear Scores First Stakes Victory in Don Drake Memorial at Will Rogers Downs

Jh Blood Sweatandtear made the most of his stakes debut Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs, pulling clear late to capture the Grade 2, $15,800 Don Drake Memorial Stakes for 3-year-old Paints and Appaloosas.

Ridden by Jorge Torres for trainer Stacy Charette-Hill, Jh Blood Sweatandtear broke sharply from the inside post and dueled for the early lead with Gigis Gucci Glasses. The pair battled through mid-stretch before Jh Blood Sweatandtear shook free and drew away to score by one length in :17.538 for 350 yards, earning a 95 speed index over a fast track.

The Oklahoma-bred son of Apollitical Blood, out of Ivoriona by Ivory James, races for Stacy Charette-Hill and Mickey Johnson. Bred by M. Johnson and S. Charette-Hill, the 3-year-old bay gelding earned $9,400 for the victory.

Jh Blood Sweatandtear entered the race off a starter optional claiming victory at Will Rogers Downs on November 10, making Sunday's stakes triumph his second win in just five days. He began his career with a maiden victory at Will Rogers Downs in September 2025 and added a claiming win at Remington Park in May 2026. The Don Drake Memorial marked his fourth career victory from eight starts and increased his lifetime earnings to $36,499.

Gigis Gucci Glasses turned in a determined runner-up effort under Erik Esqueda, battling the winner through the early stages before yielding in mid-stretch. The 3-year-old filly held second by a neck over Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby, completing the 350 yards in :17.668 with a 91 speed index.

Trained by Matt Whitekiller for owners and breeders Kyle and Kellie Taylor, Gigis Gucci Glasses is by Painted Turnpike out of Sparketta, by Crm Livewire. The Oklahoma-bred filly won the Tulsa State Fair Stakes as a 2-year-old and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Speedhorse Paint and App Futurity. Earlier this season, she finished second in the Masterpiece Derby at Fair Meadows. Sunday's $3,240 runner-up share increased her career earnings to $57,557 from 17 starts.

Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby, the 1.70-1 favorite, recovered from a slow and crowded start to finish third under Gonzalo Gutierrez. The Flying Cowboy 123 gelding chased the leaders but could not close the gap, finishing 1¼ lengths ahead of fourth-place Set On Cruise. He stopped the clock in :17.708, earning a 90 speed index.

Owned and bred by Gary and Charity Hensley and trained by Jesus Ruben Ruiz, Cuz Eyema Cowboy Baby is out of Cuz Eyema Livewire, by Crm Livewire. The Oklahoma-bred sorrel entered the race with an accomplished stakes record that included victories in the Grade 1 Speedhorse Paint and App Futurity in 2025 and the Grade 1 Speedhorse Paint & Appaloosa Stakes earlier this year.

He also captured the 2025 Grade 1 Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity at Will Rogers Downs, the 2026 Masterpiece Derby at Fair Meadows and the Henry Bowlan Memorial Stakes on October 5. His third-place finish Sunday added $1,810 to his bankroll, bringing his career earnings to $116,500 from 17 starts.

Set On Cruise finished fourth, followed by Livewires Apollo and Bg Black Friday, completing the six-horse field.

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