Sm Jess Corona, ridden by Jonathan Roman, won his trial heat by 1 1/4-lengths and clocked the fastest time to the $30,000 added AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby.

© Coady Media

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 10, 2024–Three trials were held on Tuesday afternoon for twenty-three sophomores vying for a chance to run in the $30,000 added AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby. Sm Jess Corona proved to be fastest in trial two, with Jonathan Roman aboard.

With a six mph crosswind, Sm Jess Corona cleared the competition from wire-to-wire for a 1 1/4-length victory over Jess My Dynasty and rider Oscar Andrade Jr. The son of Kvn Corona clocked a 103 speed index in 19.606, the only horse in the trials to break the 100+ speed. The slight upset paid $10.40 to win on 4-1 odds.

The $4,800 trial win payday boosted Sm Jess Corona’s earnings to $40,530. The California-bred gelding only had one out last year, remaining a maiden. Today’s victory marks his fifth win this season, and he also placed second in the Fresno Dash Stakes.

Adan Farias trains Sm Jess Corona for owner-breeder Santos Montemayor. He is out of the Separatist mare Quic Jess.

Seisponte, ridden by Oscar Andrade, Jr, won trial three by a nose over Tell Jones and Aaron Belloc. The son of Duponte clocked a 98 speed index in 19.781 seconds for the second-fastest qualifying time.

Trained by Diego Cervantes, Seisponte broke his maiden in his first official start, which was in April of this year. The gray gelding has lit the board five of six starts with three wins and $34,489 in the bank.

His owner, Jose Mendoza, purchased Seisponte for $21,000 in the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Walter ‘Dick’ Harrison bred him in Oklahoma out of Senorita Tres by Tres Seis.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $30,000 added AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be run on December 31, 2024.

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