Jess Ravin earns Champions spot with win in Mildred Vessels Memorial
CYPRESS, Calif. - Jess Ravin won her first start since November in Sunday’s $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap for Quarter Horse fillies and mares at Los Alamitos, earning a berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions against males on Dec. 15.
Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, Jess Ravin ($8.20) ran 400 yards in 19.52 seconds, finishing 1 1/2 lengths in front of 9-2 One Sweet Racy in a field of 10. Jess Ravin broke from the outside and was in front shortly after the start.
Jess Mas, a 28-1 outsider, finished third. Thermonuclear Energy, the 6-5 favorite, finished sixth, beaten two lengths. She broke well, but did not threaten Jess Ravin.
The Mildred Vessels Handicap was Jess Ravin’s seventh stakes win and 10th win in 20 starts, all for owner Enrique Gonzalez. A 5-year-old mare by Corona Cartel, Jess Ravin has earned $244,253.
Sunday’s race was Jess Ravin’s first start for trainer Jesus Nunez. Last year, Jess Ravin was trained by Yanet Rodriguez and later by Valentin Zamudio.
Gonzalez said Jess Ravin had foot issues in late 2017 that led to the layoff. Jess Ravin was third in the 2017 Mildred Vessels Handicap. Earlier this year, Jess Ravin was bred via embryo transfer three times, Gonzalez said.
The Champion of Champions at 440 yards is the track’s leading race for older horses, and annually plays an important role in championship voting.