December 9-10 Stakes Recap

Following is a recap of all official American Quarter Horse stakes for the week of December 9-10. For recaps of most graded stakes, Bank of America Racing Challenge stakes and trials, and most stakes with purses of $100,000 or more, see the individual recaps in the Racing News section. This page will be updated throughout the week.

Turf Paradise
Balgo Racing Team Inc.'s Barbara scored a wire-to-wire victory in Monday's $69,730 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity for 2-year-olds.

Prepped by Rigoberto Guillen, Barbara covered 350 yards in :17.587, and her winning margin was a clear 1 1/2 lengths from Conflict. Jacob Enriquez rode the homebred daughter of champion Tempting Dash.

Barbara was the fourth-fastest qualifier from four trials run November 18. The sorrel filly was bred in California, and she is out of Jess And Molly, a winning homebred daughter of champion Mr Jess Perry.

Barbara was winning for the third time in four outs, and the $35,549 winner's share of the purse from her first stakes score increased her earnings to $51,149.

Fastest qualifier Jess Thru A Cartel finished seventh.

Also on Monday, Born In The Blood won the 350-yard, $22,500 AQRA Turf Paradise Futurity Consolation Stakes.

Trained by Juvencio Canales for owner LG Racing LLC, Born In The Blood defeated Masters Hand by a head in :17.757. Rodolfo Arvizu rode the bay son of champion Apollitical Blood, who banked the $13,275 winner's share of the purse from his third win in eight races.

Born In The Blood was bred in Oklahoma by Randy and Stacy Hill, and he was a $50,000 purchase at last year's Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Raced in two states, including California, the gelding has earned $24,146.

SM Jess Corona on Tuesday set the fastest qualifying time to the December 31, $30,000-added AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby.

Prepped by Adan Farias for owner Santos Montemayor, SM Jess Corona won the second of three 400-yard trials by 1 1/4 lengths in :19.606. Jonathan Roman rode the homebred son of champion KVN Corona.

SM Jess Corona was bred in California. The gray gelding has won five of his 10 races and has earned $40,530, of which $39,405 has been banked from nine starts this year.

Click here for a complete list of qualifiers.

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