Good Afternoon,
Sunday’s feature race at Hialeah Park was the $60,000 Hialeah Derby. It was a deep field going in but ended up being a one horse show, with Mr Black Jesse rising to new heights for the victory. See attached and below for more.
Don’t forget, we will be having a special Monday card tomorrow with the usual 2:05 PM starting time. Next Saturday at the track is Fan Appreciation Day, with cash, prizes and ticket giveaways, food specials and live music. I’m available to field any questions or requests you may have. Hope your Holiday was a good one!
Take Care,
Pete Aiello
Director of Marketing/Simulcasting
Hialeah Park
305 885 8000 Ext 280
paiello@brunetti.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT:
PETER AIELLO
HIALEAH PARK
(305) 885-8000 Ext. 280
paiello@brunetti.com
MR BLACK JESSE HOLDS OFF CHARGING STREAKIN RARE TO WIN HIALEAH DERBY
Hialeah, FL, December 26- Mr Black Jesse, a three-year-old gelding by Take Off Jess, parlayed a good start and a good kick midway to hold off hard charging Streakin Rare and eight others to register and emphatic win the second running of the Hialeah Derby Sunday at Hialeah Park, run with a strong tailwind over a fast track under partly sunny skies.
Trained by Jose R. Aguirre, the gray outlasted fastest qualifier Streakin Rare for the win, with Chi Ter unable to stay with the top pair while ending up third. As the 5-2 betting favorite, Mr Black Jesse paid $7.00 collecting his share of the $91,950 gross purse while covering 440 yards in 21.489, under leading jockey Oscar Delgado.
Mr Black Jesse has now won 4 of 6 at Hialeah Park and seems to take on a whole different character when racing in South Florida. Propelled by a huge finishing kick, Mr Black Jesse was an easy winner of his trial for the Hialeah Derby December 10 in his most recent start, albeit not with the fastest time. Sunday, he shaved a fifth of a second off of his trial time, popped out of the gate in good order and essentially took no prisoners, taking them from start to finish. This pushes his career record to 6 for 13 and earnings to more than $80,000. He was bred in Oklahoma by Carlos Vela and is out of the First Down Quest mare First Down Zevi.
One race prior, The Sweet Side, who finished second to Mr Black Jesse in the trials, also proved tenacious, holding on for the victory in the $20,000 guaranteed Hialeah Sophomore Invitational. Trained by Reimar Cabrera for owner Ramon Sanchez, the California-bred daughter of The Down Side ran the 440 yards in 21.610 and paid $9.40 under Jose Ranilla, who rode two winners on the eight-race card.
Hialeah Park will be holding a special Monday racing card tomorrow with a 2:05 PM start time. Next Saturday, the track will be holding its annual Fan Appreciation Day, with cash, prize and ticket giveaways, great music and drink specials and live music. The racing season at the famed oval continues through January 23rd with racing every Friday, Saturday and Sunday at 2:05 pm. Hialeah Park offers free parking and admission every day, with valet parking available for just $3.
