Monday, August 30, 2010
Seventh-fastest qualifier Jacque Seis outran her 10-1 odds to win Sunday’s $38,700 Merial New Mexico Distaff Challenge at Ruidoso Downs.
Racing for Felizardo Mendez and trainer Luis Romero, Jacque Seis covered 400 yards in :19.651 under jockey Ricky Ramirez, who rode the 4-year-old mare by Tres Seis to a fourth-place finish in the first of two trials on August 12. Jacque Seis’ margin of victory was one length from fifth-fastest qualifier Silk Mountain.
Jacque Seis was bred in Oklahoma by Bollenbach Farms, and the mare is one of 25 stakes winners from five crops sired by Tres Seis, an 11-year-old son of the Streakin Six stallion Sixarun and the AQHA champion 2-year-old colt in 2001. Bred by the late Gwendolyn Eaves, Tres Seis is a half brother to 1998 champion aged stallion Dean Miracle.
To date, Tres Seis has sired 319 starters and the earners of more than $8.2 million, including two-time Grade 1 futurity winner Tres Passes. He is currently owned by Jim and Marilyn Helzer and stands for a $7,000 fee at JEH Stallion Station at Pilot Point, Texas.
Jacque Seis is also one of two winners from three starters foaled by Toogoodtobeforgoten, a winning 11-year-old daughter of Chicks Beduino who was a finalist in the ’02 La Primera del Ano Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos. Jacque Seis’ third dam, the winning Lassie’s Go Man mare Lassie Jane, produced 13 winners from 14 starters, including Classified As Dash, a gelding by A Classic Dash who won the 1999 Heritage Place Futurity (G1) and ’00 Heritage Place Derby (G1) at Remington Park.
A 1972 Texas-bred foal, Lassie Jane was a full sister to Light Foot Lass, a filly who won the 1976 Oklahoma Derby at La Mesa Park in Raton, New Mexico.
Campaigned in Arizona and New Mexico, Jacque Seis has won eight of 17 races, and the $17,802 winner’s share of the New Mexico Distaff Challenge purse pushed her earnings to $64,515. The victory also earned the mare a berth in the November 19, $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Fair Grounds Racecourse in New Orleans.
Jacque Seis’ stakes resume includes victories in the 350-yard, $15,000 Mark T Bars Stakes at Yavapai Downs near Prescott, Arizona, and last year’s $38,237 Yavapai Downs Derby. She was also last year’s AQHA West/Southwest region high-point sophomore filly.
Quic Jess finished third, 1 ¼ lengths behind Jacque Seis. Righteous Tessa, Tennessee Totty, fastest qualifier and 2-1 favorite Jesstifiably Stoli, Shines Likea Rainbow, Irmas Poem, Jessy Jane, and As Takin First completed the order of finish.
Runner-up Silk Mountain earned $7,740 for her owners, Joel Valeriano and Joel Valeriano Jr. A 3-year-old gray daughter of champion Panther Mountain, Silk Mountain has banked $94,231 from 16 outs, and her five victories include last year’s 400-yard, $15,000 Joe B. Turner Memorial Stakes at Lone Star Park.
The third-fastest qualifier, Quic Jess earned $3,870 to increase her bankroll to $15,388 for owners John T.L. Jones, Michael Bello, and Dream Walkin Farms. The 3-year-old filly by champion Separatist has one win in seven starts, a 350-yard maiden special weight score at Remington Park on May 30.