Time for Jess stands out in Southern California Derby field

CYPRESS, Calif. - Time for Jess has run two of her best races in recent weeks. She was third in the $767,750 Los Alamitos Super Derby on Nov. 6, and won a division of the Southern California Derby time trials Nov. 27.

Time for Jess had the fastest qualifying time of 19.72 seconds for 400 yards in the trials, and is in position to accomplish something for the first time in her career Sunday – win a major stakes. Time for Jess is one of several contenders in the $168,500 Southern California Derby, the final six-figure stakes for Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos this year.

Trained by Lin Melton for Spackman Racing, Time for Jess qualified for two other major races the last year. She was sixth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December 2015, and eighth after a slow start in the La Primera Del Ano Derby for fillies in April. She won the minor California Derby Challenge at Los Alamitos in August.

Carlos Huerta has ridden Time for Jess since May and has the mount Sunday. Time for Jess is one of four fillies in the field, along with Jess Good Reason, who won the Challenge Derby Championship at Los Alamitos on Oct. 29, and a division of the Southern California Derby trials in 19.90 seconds.

Time for Jess won a strong trial. Ima Fearless Hero, the champion 2-year-old gelding of 2015, was second by a neck and finished 1 1/2 lengths clear of Dynasty Energy. Ima Fearless Hero and Dynasty Energy were first and third in the 2015 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.
Ima Fearless Hero has struggled this year, with one win in five starts. He was last of 10 in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby in September, and promoted to ninth after a rival was disqualified. More recently, Ima Fearless Hero was fourth in the Los Alamitos Super Derby.

Stevie B First Cash and Thermonuclear Energy were also trial race winners Nov. 27. Stevie B First Cash was third in the Los Alamitos Championship against older horses in October and was a stakes winner at Ruidoso Downs in September. Thermonuclear Energy was second in the Governor’s Cup Derby at Los Alamitos in July.