Hialeah Park: Vallejo, Almanza sweep rich Quarter Horse stakes

Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo and trainer Rolando Almanza combined to sweep the pair of six-figure stakes on Sunday’s Quarter Horse program at Hialeah Park.

Vallejo had five winners on the nine-race card, including a 12-1 upset with the filly Eagles Magic in the $406,955 Hialeah Futurity and a score with 2-1 co-favorite Dash Master Jess in the $227,260 Hialeah Derby.

Eagles Magic ($27.60) came into the trials for the Futurity, the richest race in the four-plus seasons that Hialeah has hosted Quarter Horses, as a two-start maiden. She won her heat three weeks ago in the seventh-fastest qualifying time of 21.661 seconds for 440 yards.

In the final, Eagles Magic dueled from the start with 5-2 favorite Big Time Jp and then held off a rally from fifth by the fast-closing Jz Fast Boy to prevail by a head in 21.642 seconds. The maiden Jz Fast Boy, making his second career start, finished second by a neck.

Big Time Jp, part of a three-horse uncoupled entry for trainer Brandon Muniz, won a three-horse photo for third by a nose.

Almanza, who began the meet relatively quietly with 2 wins in his first 12 starters, trains the Texas-bred Eagles Magic for Vicente Contreras. The winner’s share of the purse was $179,060.

In the 440-yard Hialeah Derby for 3-year-olds, Dash Master Jess ($6.80) duplicated his dominant performance from the trials three weeks ago, this time winning by a length in 21.264 seconds. A Texas-bred colt owned by Cesar Robles, Dash Master Jess is 6 for 14 lifetime. The $95,449 winner’s share of the purse more than doubled his career earnings to $154,725.

Vallejo capped off his big day by bringing home the maiden Dashing Menance ($23.80) to victory by a head. A $1 pick three ticket using Vallejo's last three winners paid $1,004.40. Oddly, a $1 pick four with Vallejo's last four winners returned only $597.80.