Jess Rocket Man, ridden by Edwin Escobedo, wins the $35,000 Two Rivers Stakes by 3/4-length at Prairie Meadows Friday evening.

© Coady Photography

ALTOONA, IA–SEPTEMBER 30, 2022–Jess Rocket Man scores his fifth win from seven starts this season in the $35,000 Two Rivers Stakes at Prairie Meadows. The 440-yard stakes for 3-year-old and up was the first of four quarter horses stakes races on the card for Friday evening.

Guided by Edwin Escobedo against a 5 mph head wind, Jess Rocket Man drifted out early and drew clear for a 3/4-length victory over Apollitical Hero. The duo clocked a 105 speed index in :21.603 seconds and the win paid $3.40 on a $2.00 wager.

Jess Rocket Man was favored to win at post-time with his heavy stakes winning streak this season. Of the five wins this year, four of them were in stakes competition, including the Keokus Stakes (G3), Cash Caravan Stakes and Bob Morehouse Stakes. He placed second in the Skip Zimmerman Memorial Stakes and sixth in the Easter Stakes (G2).

Saddled by Jason Olmstead, Jess Rocket Man has visited the winner’s circle 11 times in his career and banked $192,242 for owner/breeder Lunderborg, LLC of Minnesota. The son of World Champion sire Apollitical Jess is out of the stakes winning/producing mare Paint Or More by Pyc Paint Your Wagon

Jason Olmstead also trained Apollitical Hero, ridden by Armando Alvidrez, who placed second a head over Purty Darn Quick and jockey Stormy Smith. Also a son of leading sire Apollitical Jess, the four-year-old gelding has 5 career wins with $127,532 in the bank, including the Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge (G2) in August.

Bred by Canadian River Quarter Horses of Oklahoma, Apollitical Hero sold in the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale to his current owners Paul Luderman, Tom and Bill Maher and Richard Tobin for $55,000. He is out the Valiant Hero mare Belle Of Valor, who is a full sister to two-time champion Feature Hero.

Third place finisher Purty Darn Quick has four career wins with $123,357 in earnings. Owner/trainer John Hammes bred the son of Jess Louisiana Blue in partnership with Tom Bradbury. The four-year-old gelding is out of Now Margaret by Pyc Paint Your Wagon.

The remaining order of finish is Fdd Princess, Juice Is Loose, Azola Baba and There He Is Gone.

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

About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given $2 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, sports wagering, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.