Preview Racing


Jess Good Wine, Flash Bak Headline Grade 1, 440-Yard All American Gold Cup
Jess Good Wine drew post 6 for the $250,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) at Albuquerque Downs on Monday.

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Jess Good Wine, Flash Bak Headline Grade 1, 440-Yard All American Gold Cup

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–AUGUST 28, 2024–Multiple graded stakes winners Jess Good Wine and Flash Bak are two of the seven aged runners entered in Monday's 440-yard, $250,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

A 4-year-old son of Good Reason SA trained by Toby Keeton for owner Guns Up Racing, Jess Good Wine won all three of his races during the Remington Park spring meet, and he will be making his first start since June 1, when he scored a head victory as the even-money favorite in the 440-yard, $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship (G1).

The gelding will be making his first career start at Albuquerque Downs, but he has won four of his seven outs at the classic quarter-mile distance.

Jess Good Wine drew post 6 and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa.

Flash Bak will be stretching out in distance off of his half-length win in the July 27, 400-yard Mr Jet Moore Stakes (G2) at Albuquerque Downs.

The 6-year-old Moonin The Eagle gelding ended his 5-year-old campaign with a three-quarter length victory in American Quarter Horse racing's richest and most prestigious race for older runners, the December 9, $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos Racecourse, and he began his current season with a half-length win in the 440-yard, $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on January 7.

Heath Taylor trains Flash Bak for owner Valeriano Racing Stables. Flash Bak drew post 7 and will be ridden by Francisco Calderon.

Other prominent contenders include champion KJ Desparado, a winner of eight of his 12 races at the 440-yard trip and the sport's all-time earner with a bankroll of $3,084,289 from 24 starts. KJ Desparado prepped for this race with a 1 1/4-length win in a 400-yard, $37,400 allowance dash at Ruidoso Downs on July 19. Wes Giles trains the 5-year-old son of world champion Apollitical Jess for owners John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares.

KJ Desparado drew the rail post, which Adrian Ramos will ride.

The All American Gold Cup and all Albuquerque Downs races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.