Best buddies Jess You And I and Cuantemplate passed away at ages 20 and 25.

© Amanda Glidden Photography

MORENO VALLEY, CA–OCTOBER 3, 2024–Jess You And I and pasture mate Cuantemplate were both laid to rest on October 1, 2024. Bred by Dawn R. and Rhonda Rae List in California, the two long-time friends passed away from complications due to old age.

"At 20 and 25 years old, it was time for these two best buddies to go to greener pastures together," said the Double Bar S Ranch owners.

Jess You And I was born in 2004, a bay son of Feature Mr Jess out of the Tolltac mare Gold Daze. His racing career began in the summer of 2006, including a victory in the Golden State Million Futurity (G1) and a fourth place in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1).

He went on to win the 2008 Go Man Go Handicap (G1), 2008 Champion of Champions (G1), 2009 Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1), 2009 Go Man Go Handicap (G1), 2010 Remington Championship Challenge (G1), 2010 Remington Park Invitational Championship (G1) and 2011 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1).

Jess You And I outdueled Little Bit Of Baja in the 2008 $750,000 Champion of Champions in :20.94 seconds, breaking world champion Blues Girl Too's previous track record. © Los Alamitos

He was the first Quarter Horse ever to eclipse the 21-second barrier in a 400-yard race at Los Alamitos.

He outdueled Little Bit Of Baja in the 2008 $750,000 Champion of Champions in 20.94 seconds, breaking world champion Blues Girl Too's previous track record. Jess You And I and world champion sire Apollitical Jess, who still holds the track record, are the only two horses to maintain that status to date.

Jess You And I was named the 2006 champion 2-year-old gelding, 2008 champion aged gelding, and 2008 champion aged horse. He remains in the top 20 of all-time leading money earners with over $1.8 million in earnings and has lit the board 30 times from 42 starts, with 19 wins, eight of which were in Grade 1 competition.

Cuantemplate was born in 1999 on the Double Bar S Ranch out of Cuantalamera by Victorian Prince. The sorrel son of Strawfly Special has a record of 3-8-3 from 34 starts, all at Los Alamitos Race Course, earning $28,067 on the track.

Best buddies Jess You and I and Cuantemplate play in the pasture. © Amanda Glidden Photography

Jess You And I and Cuantemplate buddied up many years ago when they both suffered from their own emotional perils.

In 2013, Dawn List received a Facebook message that Cuantemplate had been found neglected and needed medical care. After putting things in motion, the sisters rescued the gelding and brought him back to his forever home.

During the same year, Jess You And I was going through another ordeal of his own. His long-time pasture mate, Cassidy Cash (another former Double Bar S Ranch home-bred runner turned pony horse), had passed away from a heart attack. "Jess" was very distraught from the loss.

When Cuantemplate returned to his birthplace, he was pastured with Jess You and I. The two became inseparable from that point forward. Nothing could diminish their bond, even when they moved to different locations together.

Both Jess You and I and Cuantemplate were well cared for on behalf of their breeders Double Bar S Ranch. "Rest well, boys, and enjoy heaven." 
© Jess Johnson/Rainy Butte Photography

Both geldings were well cared for on behalf of their breeders during their retirements. They commented, "We can’t thank Toby and Cindi Keeton enough for taking care of them in their final years. We know how hard today was for you, and we are very grateful!"

"They both gave us so much, and now it was our turn to do the same for them.", said the List sisters. "Rest well, boys, and enjoy heaven."