Jess A Bad Lil Cat, under jockey Oscar Andrade, Jr., won the $100,000 Guaranteed Rainbow Juvenile Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 12, 2026—Jess A Bad Lil Cat remained unbeaten in three career starts with a determined three-quarter-length victory in Sunday's $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque, covering 400 yards in 19.139 while earning a 101 speed index.

The sorrel gelding by champion and champion sire Jess Good Candy out of the Grade 1-winning Big Daddy Cartel mare Cat Daddys Lil Girl broke sharply, took command immediately, then drifted out slightly through the lane before holding safely over Flying Cowboys Candy. Expensive Toro closed well to finish another neck back in third.

Owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, bred in New Mexico by Jimmy Negrete and Jimmy Vasquez, and trained by David Gomez-Barraza, Jess A Bad Lil Cat was ridden to victory by Oscar Andrade Jr. 

"Now we are going to see how he comes back and make a decision for the see All American, maybe supplement him," Vasquez said following the victory. "We got him in the Albuquerque race, so see what he does, see how he comes back."

The winning connections of Jess A Bad Lil Cat accept the Rainbow Juvenile stakes trophy Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Media

"We’re fairly confident in our horse right now," Andrade Jr. said in the winner’s circle. "He’s shown his talent, so if we were to go in the All American, I think we would have a shot."

The gelding earned $44,094 for the win, boosting his career bankroll to $65,374 while extending his perfect record to three wins from three starts. He was listed in the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale but did not sell.

Jess A Bad Lil Cat's dam, Cat Daddys Lil Girl, is a Grade 1-winning daughter of Big Daddy Cartel, who earned more than $565,000.

Runner-up Flying Cowboys Candy, a sorrel colt by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Candy Cartels Candy, by Cartels Candy Man, overcame a slight hop leaving the gate before chasing the winner throughout to earn $18,898.

Bred in Oklahoma by PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC, the colt races for CHR Racing, is trained by Tony Sedillo, was ridden by Luis Martinez, and sold for $39,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Rainbow Juvenile winner Jess A Bad Lil Cat at The Downs
at Albuquerque. © Coady Media

Flying Cowboys Candy has also finished second in the Four Corners Futurity and West Texas Juvenile this season and has earned $81,357 in five starts.

Expensive Toro, a bay gelding by champion and Grade 1 sire A Revenant out of Memphis D Nasty, by FDD Dynasty, rallied with a solid late bid to finish third and collect $10,499. Bred in Texas by Jorge Haddad, he is owned by Cream Of The Crop, Inc., trained by Heber Deyta-Melendez, and was ridden by Brian Barraza. He has earned $22,392 in five starts.

Jess A Bad Lil Cat returned $7.40, $4.20, and $3.20 across the board. Flying Cowboys Candy paid $4.60 and $3.40, while Expensive Toro returned $3.20 to show. The $1 exacta (5-10) paid $15.90, the 50-cent trifecta (5-10-9) returned $29.85, and the $1 superfecta (5-10-9-4) was worth $261.40.

Komandeaux finished fourth, followed by BP Priceless, Mr Roosevelt, Crash For Kash, and Tater Hill Senator. Scratched prior to the race were Dynastys Dash, Shes A Cowboys Fire, and also-eligibles Miss American and Revenantly.

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