Dash For Cash Derby

Just Dulce earned the first stakes victory of his career on Saturday night at Lone Star Park with a win in the $156,200 Dash For Cash Derby (G2). Piloted by Christian Ramos for trainer Marc Jungers, the Jess Good Candy colt scored by a neck as the 9-5 second choice in the wagering. The race was clocked in :21.453 for a 96 speed index at 440 yards. 

Owned by the Just Dulce Partnership, the colt is a $385,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale purchase. He earned $67,266 for this win and his bankroll now stands at $112,466. He was a finalist in last year’s $1-million Rainbow Futurity (G1) and has won four of seven career starts. Bred in Texas by Bob and Jerry Gaston, Just Dulce is a full brother to champion and Grade 1 winner Dulce Sin Tacha, who is this year’s leading first crop sire. 

Jimenas Ranch's Nine One Won could not catch Just Dulce but finished 1 ½ lengths clear of third-place finisher Monty Cristo. This was the seventh consecutive top three finish for Nine One Won, who also hit the board in the $205,300 Retama Park Derby and $244,000 Heritage Place Derby (G3). The Tempting Dash gelding has earned $184,372 with a lifetime record of 19-6-4-6.

Carlos Hernandez Velasquez’s Monty Cristo, a gelding by Favorite Cartel, earned his first stakes placing by running third. 

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on X and on Instagram, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.