SG Jacob Jay, under jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez, powers to victory in the $25,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap on Saturday Los Alamitos.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–APRIL 4, 2026– Some victories are measured by inches, while others are measured in dollars and cents. Then there are those measured by the legacy they carry. The talented Favorite Cartel colt SG Jacob Jay has made a name for himself thanks to his prowess on the racetrack, including winning the $25,000 James Smith Memorial Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Racing for owner Shane Giles, SG Jacob Jay turned in a professional and dominant performance in the 350-yard dash, marking the first stakes victory of his promising career. For the Giles family, his wins are always deeply personal. The colt is named after Jacob Jay Giles, a lifelong horseman who passed away in late October 2023. The elder Giles spent decades in construction and pipe fitting, but his true passion was found at the Giles Arena he built in Utah and with the racehorses he trained across the Intermountain West.

The winning connections of SG Jacob Jay accept the $25,000 James Smith Memorial trophy at Los Alamitos on Saturday. © William Zuazo

“My dad asked me to see this horse through,” Shane Giles said in the winner's circle. “It’s amazing what this horse has done for us.”

Coming off a strong sixth-place finish in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, SG Jacob Jay entered the James Smith as a seasoned stakes veteran of the derby ranks. Sent off as the 9-5 second choice, the full brother to AQHA Champion stallion Tarzanito showed he was the class of the field on this night, taking the lead shortly after the start and never looking back.

Under the guidance of jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez, who also piloted the colt during his Winter Derby trial win, SG Jacob Jay opened a neck advantage over his rivals. Midway through the dash, he extended that lead to a half-length and finished strongly to hold the advantage all the way to the wire over Jose Luis Valdez’s 35-1 longshot, Val Baby.

His final time for the 350-yard sprint was :17.683. Trained by Adan Farias, SG Jacob Jay earned $13,750 for the win, bringing his career bankroll to $40,735. With this victory, the colt has now won four of his eight career starts.

While the win in the Winter Derby trials was highly emotional for his connections, this stakes victory was a moment of pure celebration and reflection on the family’s deep roots in the sport.

“It was great. I’m not going to cry this time,” Shane Giles said with a smile. “It’s amazing to have one do that for you. I appreciate it so much. My girls had a big barrel race back home so they couldn’t come out, so my cousin, Levaughn Gines and his wife, from Tabiona (Utah) came with me. Levaughn had a horse in the sixth race that won, so it was a good day for both of us.”

The victory serves as a fitting tribute to Jacob Jay and a reminder of why the Giles family decided to "try one more" after a hiatus from the track. The win also sets the George Fallieras and Nathali Pacheco-bred runner up for a major sophomore campaign at Los Alamitos.

“I think he’s got three more derbies this year so we’re excited,” Giles added. “We’ll have a lot of visits. We like coming down so it’s good.”

As the 2026 season continues, SG Jacob Jay appears to be hitting his stride at the perfect time. With his first stakes trophy now on the mantle, the colt is proving to be a legitimate force in the sophomore division—always looking to win one more for the patriarch of the Giles family.

Ridden by Cesar Franco for trainer Ramiro Lopez Zuazo, Val Baby earned $5,625 for running second. Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres’ SM My Valentine, winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, earned $3,125 for finishing third. Cheap Bar, Hurry Up, and Mental Lapse completed the field.

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