LOS ALAMITOS, CA—APRIL 4, 2018—The running of the $18,000 Mini Rock Handicap for mares and the first race for 2-year-olds (see related story) of the season will highlight the eight-race program on Saturday night at Los Alamitos. First post is approximately 6 pm (PDT).a

Carlos Avalos’ Designs By Dynasty and C.K. and Laurel Allen’s Strawfinders Jessee are among the top distaffers in the Mini Rock.

The two talented mares faced off in the Terrific Energy Handicap on March 3 with Designs By Dynasty coming out of on top in the race named after her dam. Trained by Yanet Rodriguez, Designs By Dynasty flew out of the gate on that night and quickly established a daylight advantage. She sailed to victory from there, crossing the wire 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Jess Hawk, who will also be part of the Mini Rock. Designs By Dynasty is a perfect two-for-two in 2018.

Strawfinders Jessee won the Denim N Diamonds Handicap on February 17 and was third in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap on January 7. She was the favorite 4-5 favorite in the Terrific Energy, but Designs By Dynasty was just too tough. Strawfinders Jessee finished fourth. As mentioned earlier, EG High Desert Farms’ Jess Hawk was the runner-up in the Terrific Energy. She figures to be a tough again. Her resume includes a third place finish against males in the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship on February 11.

In the Brad McKinzie, Jess Hawk finished behind 2017 PCQHRA champion aged gelding BH Lisas Boy and 2016 PCQHRA Horse of the Year Zoomin For Spuds. Jess Hawk was second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby during her 3-year-old season. Cruz Mendez will ride the One Sweet Jess mare, who’ll be saddled by Jesus Nunez. The leading Thoroughbred trainer here last year, Nunez recently began to train for EG High Desert Farms’, one of the top Quarter Horse racing stables here.

The Mini Rock field will also feature Tough To Figure, a solid allowance winner on March 10, Zendaya, who was third in the Denim N Diamonds, and Hootin For Hotlips, who finished third in the Terrific Energy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Racing for the late Jay Parsons, Mini Rock was one of the top aged mares during this century’s first decade. The AQHA champion aged mare in 2005, Mini Rock won major stakes events like the 2005 Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap, the 2004 Grade 1 Mildred Memorial Handicap, and the 2002 Grade 2 La Primera Del Ano Derby. She won 12 of 35 races - seven of them in stakes races - and hit the board in 29 of those outings. Mini Rock earned $474, 387 during her great career.

"She always loved to run," said the legendary Blane Schvaneveldt, who trained Mini Rock. "I've had a lot of nice mares over the years, but she is one of the best I've ever had. Jay owned a lot of good mares as well, such as (four-time stakes winner) Bandolanty and Lantys Luck."

Mini Rock hit the board in 13 consecutive races during one streak that lasted from July 2003 until August 2005. During a different streak, the Chicks Beduino mare hit the board seven straight times from January 2002 until June 2002. During her racing career, Mini Rock faced the likes of champions AB What A Runner and Mongoose Jet Eye and top stakes runners like Special Queen SA, Prima LD, Magic And Rhythm, and Enjoy The Moment.

The late Jay Parsons Sr. of Penn Valley, California was recognized by the AQHA for having registered at least one American Quarter Horse for a total of 50 cumulative years. Parsons bred three-time distance champion Sign Of Lanty as well as Mini Rock's dam, Miga Ja. He campaigned 1998 champion 2-year-old First Sovereign, 1979 Governor's Cup Futurity winner Red Measles and 1973 Kindergarten Futurity winner Lantys Jet.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.