Sunday, September 05, 2010
Ridden for the first time by Jacky Martin, Noconi parlayed a sharp break from post 1 into a victory in Sunday’s 440-yard, $40,000 All American Gold Cup (G3) at Ruidoso Downs.
Noconi covered his quarter-mile trip in :21.318, and his margin of victory was a head from 7-5 favorite Shy Ann Jess. Paul Jones saddled the 5-year-old Mr Jess Perry gelding, who was making his first start in seven months, for owners R.D. Hubbard and John T.L. Jones Jr.
“(The finish) wasn’t as close as it looked,” said Martin. “I got by (Shy Ann Jess) about a hundred yards from the line. Once I got by him, I knew that horse couldn’t come back and beat us.”
The AQHA champion 3-year-old gelding two years ago, Noconi is one of 95 stakes winners from 12 crops sired by Mr Jess Perry, an 18-year-old stallion by Streakin La Jolla and the sport’s champion 2-year-old in 1994. Mr Jess Perry’s 824 starters have earned more than $31.6 million, including champion One Famous Eagle. He stands at 6666 Ranch at Guthrie, Texas.
Noconi’s dam, My Dashing Lady, is a 14-year-old daughter of Dash For Cash who won the 1999 Rainbow Derby (G1). The AQHA champion broodmare in ’08, My Dashing Lady has produced five winners from six starters, including Brenda Beautiful, a filly by Feature Mr Jess who won the 2008 Southwest Juvenile Championship (G1) at Zia Park and was that season’s AQHA champion freshman filly, and the stakes-winning Separatist filly Going Separate Ways.
Bred in Texas by R.D. Hubbard and Don Farris, My Dashing Lady is a half sister to 1991 Sunland Park Fall Futurity (G2) winner Sixy Lady and 1996 Southern California Derby (G1) winner and ’95 All American Futurity (G1) finalist Western Heart.
Noconi traces back to his third dam, the Master Hand (TB) mare Lady Juno. A 1976 foal, Lady Juno won four stakes in 1980, including the Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos, and was that season’s champion aged mare. Lady Juno was a half sister to Life Styles, a filly by Super Sound Charge who won the ’85 West Texas Futurity (G1) at Sunland Park.
An earner of $954,163 from eight wins in 23 starts, Noconi has six stakes, all of which are graded. The gelding’s stakes resume includes in last year’s Lovington Handicap (G2) at Zia Park and Mr Jet Moore (G3) and Higheasterjet (G3) handicaps at Ruidoso Downs. He also won the 2008 All American (G1) and Hobbs America (G2) derbies.
“He ran a beautiful race,” said Jones of Noconi. “He broke good, and Jacky did a beautiful job. First time off the layoff, it was impressive.
“This race was more like a prep,” added the trainer. “We’re pointing toward the Zia Park Championship and Championship at Sunland Park.”
The 2-1 second choice, Noconi returned a $6.40 win mutuel and teamed with Shy Ann Jess for a ($2) exacta payoff of $15.60. Double Out, a 33-1 longshot, ran third to complete a $386.60 ($2) trifecta.
Time For A Cigar, Vital Winner, Sassys Tuffy, Louisianafeature One, Heza Gambling Man, and Shaboomator completed the order of finish.
Shy Ann Jess earned $8,800 for his owners, Paul Wood and Henry “Butch” Southway. The 5-year-old stallion by Mr Jess Perry has banked $128,268, and his six wins in 21 starts include the July 3, 350-yard Higheasterjet Handicap at Ruidoso Downs.
A 4-year-old gelding by Check Him Out racing for Maribel Tovar, Double Out earned $4,000 to push his bankroll to $115,110 from four wins in 20 outs. Double Out was campaigned in California last year, and he was a finalist in the Los Alamitos Super (G1), Golden State (G1), and PCQHRA Breeders’ (G2) derbies.