LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 24, 2021—Jaime Gomez’s J Best Boogie was outstanding in her sophomore debut, as the filly by Docs Best Card took an early lead, remained powerful from there, and posted a half-length victory in the $15,000 Tami Purcell Handicap for 3-year-old fillies on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Oscar Peinado, J Best Boogie covered the 350-yard distance in a sharp time of :17.489 while posting her fourth win in seven starts. The California-bred had not raced since winning her trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on November 22. Two outings ago, J Best Boogie finished third to eventual AQHA champion 2-year-old gelding Apollitical Gold in the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity on November 1.

“J Best Boogie beat the gray (Apollitical Patty) in the Golden State,” said Gomez, who also trains J Best Boogie. “My filly is really nice. After the Two Million she needed some time off. We gave her the time off and that pays. Being patience pays off with horses.”

J Best Boogie came into the Tami Purcell after posting a series of solid workouts in preparation for her 2021 debut.

“I think she finished really good tonight,” Gomez added. “I’m really happy with the way she’s come back. I’m looking forward to have her run in the big derbies.”

Gomez opted to skip Sunday’s trials to the Golden State Derby with J Best Boogie. He’ll instead point her to the trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby and the trials to the Grade 2 Southern California Derby to be held later this year. J Best Boogie earned $8,250 for the win to take her career earnings to $148,911.

Reliance Ranches LLC’s A Dash Of Sign, second in the Adequan California Derby Challenge final on May 23, was second in the Tami Purcell. The Tempting Dash trailed J Best Boogie the entire way, but to her credit, she also displayed a strong late kick to match the winner’s powerful finish. A Dash Of Sign earned $3,375 for running second to take her career earnings to $87,513.

The top two finishers were followed by The Best Feeling, Gotta Corona Jess, Jess Fortunate, Red Rosy Cartel, and Perrys Everlasting.

The Tami Purcell is named in honor of the 1996 Champion of Champions winning jockey, who also won the 1997 All American Futurity. In the process, Purcell became the first woman to win each of those races. She won the Champion of Champions with AQHA World Champion Dashing Folly and the All American Futurity with champion Corona Cash.

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