Pretty Sweet Jess, ridden by Ricardo Moreno, defeats stablemate Fired by 3/4-lengths in the $39,270 (US) Century Mile Regional Adequan Derby Challenge on Saturday.

© Ryan Haynes/Coady Photography, Ltd.

EDMONTON, ALB–JUNE 29, 2024–Heavy favorite Pretty Sweet Jess fulfills expectations with her sixth consecutive win in the $39,270 (US) Century Mile Regional Adequan Derby Challenge on Saturday.

After piloting Pretty Sweet Jess to victory in the Horsemen's Derby in May, Ricardo Moreno returned for the mount again today at Century Mile. He piloted the son of One Sweet Jess to a 3/4-length wire-to-wire victory over stablemate Fired in :20.266 seconds, clocking a 91 speed index. The post-time favorite's 400-yard finish paid $4.30 to win on 1/1 odds. 

Fired, ridden by J. Botello, challenged Pretty Sweet Jess to the wire but was out-finished for second. Corrine Andros piloted Dj Bright Ruby to third.

Leading trainer William Leech saddled the top three finishers, as well as Mountain Night Train, who was in the final spot. Jerry Stojan owns both Pretty Sweet Jess and Fired. Gonetothebrightside Syndicate owns Dj Bright Ruby and Mountain Night Train.

Pretty Sweet Jess has six wins and two thirds from eight starts, and the $18,456 winner's share of the derby purse boosted her earnings to $92,474. She has won four stakes races, including the Canada Cup Futurity [G3] and Evergreen Park Juvenile Challenge Stakes.

Veronica Gail Kawananakoa bred Pretty Sweet Jess in California out of Pretty Lethal by First Down Dash. The three-year-old filly is a $17,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate.

Runner-up Fired has two career wins, including the Maiden Express Stakes in May at Century Mile. The daughter of Fly Thru The Fire has $35,320 in earnings.

Steve D. Burns, DVM, who bred Fired in California out of Ruths Chris by Separatist, sold here in the 2021 Los Alamitos Equine Sale for $18,000.

Third-place finisher Dj Bright Ruby has yet to break her maiden from eight starts with $11,849 in the bank. Jack and Deborah Williams bred the daughter of Gone To The Mountain in Alberta out of Dj Bright August by Bright Plain.

Get It Good, St Paddy 109, Miss Fancy Nancy, O Lets Be First, Timbers Beauty and Mountain Night Train complete the order of finish.