LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JANUARY 2, 2022—The first of the newly added stakes events for female Quarter Horses to be held this season at Los Alamitos had a surprising result, as Martha Wells’ Jess Fortunate outdueled big favorite Famous Shining Star by a nostril to win the $25,000 Dashingly Stakes for aged mares at 350 yards on Sunday night.

Sent off at 12-1 odds, Jess Fortunate was fourth at the start but finished with aplomb, as she caught the odds-on choice Famous Shining Star in the final strides to score her second win in a row.

Jess Fortunate, a 4-year-old mare by Mr Jess Perry, was claimed by Wells for $16,000 in July of 2020 during her 2-year-old campaign. Now having added black type to her resume, Jess Fortunate will be headed to the breeding shed to be bred to Wells’ champion Tell Cartel, who stands at Fales Ranch in Coolidge, Arizona.

“That’s why we claimed her to begin with,” Wells said. “That’s exciting that she got her bold, black type in her last race. We’ll have to play it by ear (to see if she comes back to race). She is sound, but I am going to send her back to the bred now. Tell Cartel is doing great. We got quite a few people interested in him from all over the country, which is nice. I’m looking forward to it.”

Jess Fortunate came into this race after winning an allowance event on November 13. Bred by Markum Corner K, the Arkansas-bred improved to four wins from 15 starts and earnings of $38,295. Jonathan Roman piloted Jess Fortunate for trainer Matt Fales.

Roman has won three stakes races over the past four racing nights at Los Alamitos. He won with A Dash Of Sign in the Grade 2 Southern California Derby on December 19 and was also aboard Up The Ladder in the Holiday Handicap on December 26.

Owned by Johnny Trotter and bred by Julianna Hawn Holt, Famous Shining Star ran a strong race and just missed scoring her first stakes victory. Ridden by Cruz Mendez, she did earn black type with her solid runner-up effort in this race, the first stakes placed effort of her career.

The mare by One Famous Eagle earned $5,625 to take her career earnings to $25,600. Out of Thewayyouwantmetoo, Famous Shining Star is a three-quarter sister to champion and leading first crop sire of 2021 A Revenant.

Bobby Simmons’ Elphaba earned $3,125 for running third under jockey Jairo Rangel for trainer Jose Flores, who also saddled Famous Shining Star.

More Than Looks, Cotton Cartel, Go To Girl, Political Babbel, Terra Fire and Chance It Now completed the field.

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For more info, please contact larace@losalamitos.com. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.