Ahs Blue Boy, under jockey Emilio Tapia, defeated Walk With Jess in the Mark T Bar Stakes (not black type) Sunday at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Photography

PHOENIX, AZ – OCTOBER 28, 2018 - Ahs Blue Boy, with Emilio Tapia aboard, broke sharply and led throughout the $7,000 Mark T Bars Stakes (not black type) to win by a neck on Sunday afternoon at Turf Paradise.

The duo covered the 350-yard stakes in 17.908 to earn an 89 speed index. Horses that did not qualify for the AQRA or President’s Futurity were preferred for the Mark T Bars.

It was the second career win and first stakes win for Ahs Blue Boy ($9.60), who was making his sixth lifetime start at his fifth track. He debuted at Delta Downs, where he hit the board twice in two starts before moving to New Mexico. He finished third at Albuquerque and broke his maiden in Ruidoso before shipping to Lone Star for trials in September.

Umberto Belloc owns and trains the 2-year-old gelding. He was bred in Florida by Alicia Hill Smith, by Jess Louisiana Blue, out of Ror Seasick, by Wave Carver.

AQRA Executive Director Loretta Brasher presents the winning connections of Ahs Blue Boy the Mark T Bars Stakes trophy on Sunday at Turf Paradise.
© Coady Photography

Walk With Jess was gaining on the winner but finished a neck behind in second place. Walk With Jess took the blinkers off for the first time in six starts and hit the board for the first time in his career.

Jose Arriola-Serrano was aboard Walk With Jess for owner and trainer Alex Torres-Casas. John Andrieni bred the gelding in California, by Walk Thru Fire and out of the multiple graded stakes placed mare Jess So Sixy, by Mr Jess Perry.

Fires Away, the post-time favorite, finished a half-length behind Walk With Jess in third place. The lightly raced 2-year-old filly had only made one previous start, at Los Alamitos, winning by a nose in an upset.

Fires Away was ridden by Jorge Bourdieu for trainer Matt Fales and is owned by Ralph and Carolyn Fales, who also bred the filly in Arizona. The daughter of Fdd Dynasty is out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Fly Thru Fire.

Completing the field were Farocketforone, Dashing Katt, Cristo Cartel, Hamilton, Drop a Corona and Jt Scoremesomecash. Mischievous Bay, Shes Five Bar (AE) and Stone Cash (AE) were scratched.