JUNGERS' BIG 2024 CONTINUES
Trainer Marc Jungers has had a tremendous 2024 campaign. The longtime horseman, who early in his career was a groom for the World Champion Sgt Pepper Feature, has won 45 races for earnings of over $1.5 million this year with his top achievements being Grade 1 stakes victories from the terrific sophomore filly Asscher and from the seasoned veteran sprinter Shakers No Secret. In the 2-year-old division, Lethal Cowboy 123 ran a tremendous race to finish second for Jungers in the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity on October 27 at Los Alamitos.
Shakers No Secret’s victory in the Grade 1, $277,975 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship at Albuquerque Downs on October 26 was very rewarding for his connections, as it earned the gelded son of Five Bar Cartel a presumptive berth to this year’s Champion of Champions. Jungers (photo) is looking forward to having the opportunity to saddle Shakers No Secret in the very race that Sgt Pepper Feature won in 1982.
Meanwhile, Caliche Walls Venture, Jimmy Barton, Lance Bland, and Alan Isbell’s Lethal Cowboy 123 will another big opportunity to bolster his barn’s great success this year in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on November 24.
As for Barton and Bland’s Asscher, the FDD Dynasty filly, won the Los Alamitos Oaks by ¾ lengths and has continued to be one of the nation’s top sophomore fillies thanks to a second place finish in the Grade 1 Rainbow Oaks and a victory in the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Derby at Lone Star Park, a race in which she dead-heated for the win with another Jungers-trainee, the gelding Relentless Eagle, who is also owned by Lance Bland. Asscher’s next start will be in the Purina Feeds Texas Classic Oaks at Lone Star Park on November 16.
ANOTHER TALENTED MARE ON THE GROUNDS
The distaff division at Los Alamitos has another outstanding addition to its deep and talented roster after PV Quarter Horse Farms, LLC’s Jess Call Me Candy won an allowance event at 300 yards last Sunday night. The 5-year-old mare by Apollitical Jess faced a solid field that included stakes winners Forever Dynasty and Milagro Lady and she came out on top, winning by a nose in a time of :15.521. This was her second start in California this year having previously finished third to 2023 AQHA champion filly Fearless Moon in the Sound Dash Handicap on October 12. Trained by Eddie Willis, Jess Call Me Candy could make her next start in the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap on November 16 while looking to take another step towards racing in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap in early January.
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