Ja Am I Blue eyes stakes breakthrough in Dash For Cash QH Futurity

Ja Am I Blue came close to graded stakes success in April. He will get a second chance at it Saturday night in the Grade 2, $353,700 Dash For Cash Quarter Horse Futurity at Lone Star Park.

The 400-yard race is one of three stakes on the card. The Grade 3, $213,200 Dash For Cash Derby will be run over 440 yards and $39,300 Dash For Cash Juvenile serves as a consolation for the Dash For Cash Futurity.

Ja Am I Blue set the fastest qualifying time for the Dash For Cash Futurity on Sept. 16, when he won his trial in 19.72 seconds. He won in the 10th race on a night of 11 trials at Lone Star, zipping to a 1 1/2-length score over fellow qualifier Thecartelofmiracle.

The Dash For Cash will be the second stakes appearance for Ja Am I Blue. He ran in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity on April 29 and finished second by a half-length to This Is an Eagle. Ja Am I Blue did not surface again until trials for the Dash For Cash, and would seem to have reason to move forward in his second start in more than four months. Jesse Levario has the mount for Irma Vargas and trainer Rolando Almanza.

The chief threat could be Cloud Ridge, who was a three-length trial winner in the 11th race Sept. 16. He won in 19.88 seconds, the second-fastest qualifying time for Saturday. Cloud Ridge won the Grade 3 Easy Jet Stakes in June at Remington Park. Mario Delgado has the mount for Randy Davis and trainer Stacey Capps.

Koolnfamous is the leading earner in the Dash For Cash Derby, compiling a bankroll of $376,690 on the strength of a runner-up finish in last year’s $1 million Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park. He also was sixth in the $3 million All American Futurity in 2016 at Ruidoso Downs.

Other leading contenders include Paint My Pilot, who was second in last year’s Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs.

*** Lone Star chaplain Sam Spence will conduct a “Blessing of the Animals” ceremony Wednesday morning in the stable area. The event coincides with the feast day of the patron saint of animals, Francis of Assisi.