Zm Jess leads from start to finish to capture the AQRA Derby at Turf Paradise on April 25.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ—April 25, 2026—Zm Jess continued his sharp rise through the Arizona ranks, delivering a commanding performance to win the $57,640 AQRA Derby at Turf Paradise, a 350-yard test for three-year-olds.

Under jockey Cerapio Figueroa, Zm Jess broke sharply and controlled the race from the outset, never surrendering the lead en route to a three-quarter length victory. He stopped the clock in :17.812 seconds while posting an 88 speed index.

The winning connections of ZM Jess accept the $57,640 AQRA Derby trophy at Turf Paradise on Saturday. © Coady Media

Owned by Jose Juan Martinez and trained by Havid Canez, Zm Jess was bred by Francisco Molina. The gelding is sired by Jess Different, a half-brother to champion Uncle D, and is out of the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Jess A Blue Tac, a winning mare and stakes finalist. With the $29,200 winner’s share, Zm Jess improved his record to 10-3-4-1 with earnings of $86,451.

The victory marked his third consecutive win, following a score in the Desert Classic Derby earlier this year. He was the fourth fastest qualifier from the April 1 trials and has now firmly established himself as one of the top three-year-olds in the region. As a juvenile, he placed third in the AQRA Futurity and finished second in the Desert Classic Futurity.

Heart On A Run closed well to finish second under jockey Kevin Carbajal for owner-breeder J Lazy Six Racing and trainer David Williams. The filly, who qualified second slowest for the final, rallied late to stop the clock in :17.908 seconds while posting an 85 speed index.

Sired by Corona Cartel and out of the One Famous Eagle mare One Spicy Eagle, she now holds a record of 9-2-3-2 with earnings of $52,236. Still seeking her first stakes victory, she has been a consistent performer, including a second-place finish in the AQRA Futurity and a third in the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity.

The post-time favorite Alitlelesstalk finished third after a troubled start, stopping the clock in :17.982 seconds with an 83 speed index. Ridden by Mark Jasso for owners Ralph and Carolyn Fales and trainer Matthew Fales, the gelding is a $23,000 repurchase from the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

He is out of the stakes-winning Jesse James Jr mare Jess One Looke ($33,221), a full sister to stakes winners Jesse Lane ($304,123) and Zuccardi ($146,749), from a family that includes champions Alice K White ($276,837) and Astica ($411,623). He now has a record of 9-3-2-1 with earnings of $88,983.

The AQRA Derby showcased a competitive group of Arizona-breds, but it was Zm Jess who proved best on the day, extending his winning streak and adding another major victory to his resume.

Block N Tell, HW Tellum Sweetly, Nonika Cartel, First Down Karms, and One Cache Icon completed the order of finish. Desperadoe and Tellraiser were scratched.

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