Jessica's Star stretches out for Arapahoe Park Classic

Jessica’s Star will stretch out Saturday when he takes on horse for the course Co Ferment in the $30,000 Arapahoe Park Classic.

The race is one of two Thoroughbred stakes on the card. The $40,000 Spicy drew Galactic Princess, who meets older rivals off a 15 1/4-length stakes romp at Arapahoe.

Jessica’s Star is part of an 11-horse field for the Arapahoe Classic, a 1 1/8-mile race for 3-year-olds and up. Co Ferment won last year’s running, while the first three finishers from the recent Mount Elbert – Dugaboy Brown, C C Express, and Magical Twist – step outside the Colorado-bred ranks Saturday.

Jessica’s Star has done some of his best work over a route of ground, and among his wins are the Grade 3 Iowa Derby, the $75,000 Bosselman/Gus Fonner Stakes, and the Jim Rasmussen Memorial. He is coming off a fifth-place finish in the $100,000 Iowa Sprint Handicap, a six-furlong race at Prairie Meadows that went in a quick 1:08.60.

Scott Stevens has the mount on Jessica’s Star, who will break from post 7 for Mark Breen and trainer Kevin Eikleberry. The horse by Magna Graduate figures to show speed on the stretch-out.

Co Ferment boasts a 6-for-8 record over the local oval, and among his wins is a 5 1/4-length stroll in last year’s Arapahoe Classic. He closed from 10 lengths back and earned his best career Beyer Speed Figure, an 82.

Co Ferment comes into this year’s race on top of his game. He has won his last two starts, including the $30,000 Front Range over six furlongs July 2 at Arapahoe. Nathan Haar has the mount for David Lebsock and trainer Stetson Rushton. Co Ferment is by Afleet Express.

Galactic Princess will seek her third straight stakes win when she runs in the Spicy, a 1 1/16-mile race for fillies and mares bred in Colorado. She won at two turns for the first time July 22, drawing off by more than 15 lengths in the $44,000 CTBA Oaks. Stevens has the mount for trainer Ty Garrett.

The chief threat could be Twisted Regan, who is moving back into the statebred ranks off a runner-up finish in the $30,000 Columbine at Arapahoe.