Racing


Valentin Jqm Returns To Win Column As California-Breds Dominate Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes
Valentine Jqm, under jockey Mark Jasso, winning the $30,000 Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise Wednesday afternoon.

© Coady Photography
Valentin Jqm Returns To Win Column As California-Breds Dominate Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes

PHOENIX, AZ—NOVEMBER 17, 2021—After having a four-race win streak snapped in his last start, Valentin Jqm was best late to defeat Be Quiet by a neck in the $30,000 Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes, a 300 yard event for 3-year-old & up Quarter Horses, Wednesday afternoon at Turf Paradise.

Under jockey Mark Jasso, Valentin Jqm completed the 300 yard task in :15.507 seconds, equaling a 97 speed index over a fast racing surface. It was the fifth win in six starts this year for the 4-year-old California-bred son of leading sire Separatist.

Trainer Amy Nelson saddled the bay gelding for owner Juan Cesar Torres-Casas. The $17,670 winner's purse boosted Valentin Jqm's earnings to $45,022. In June he also won the A Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes at Arizona Downs. Pedro Barbizan Santiago Leite bred Valentin Jqm from the Corona Cartel mare Corona Perfection.

The winning connections of Valentin Jqm accept the Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes trophy at Turf Paradise Wednesday afternoon.
© Coady Photography
Bouncing off a ninth-place finish in an Allowance at Zia Park on October 24th, runner-up Be Quiet earned $5,700 for second. Eloy Navarro trains the California-bred son of multiple stakes sire Kiddy Up for owner Jose Aguilar Mendoza.

Edward Allred bred Be Quiet from the Check Out mare Thinking Out Loud. Erik Esqueda had the riding call aboard the $85,965 stakes winner.

Another California-bred, Red Hawk Cartel finished a neck back in the blanket finish to earn $2,850 for third. Ralph Fales conditions the 6-year-old son of leading sire Favorite Cartel for owner-breeder Martha Wells. A stakes winner out of the Hawkinson mare Red Hawk Chick, Red Hawk Cartel has banked $22,619.

First Lady Perry, Republic Anne, Apollitical J One, Senor Frogs, Chicksfabulouscorona, Mrs Angel Jess and Soverynne completed the field.

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With more than 50 off-track-bettting locations across Arizona and Turf Paradise able to be wagered on many platforms across the country, Turf Paradise will be increasing its social media presence and interaction with fans on their Facebook page and Twitter account. (@turf_paradise). The track's Grand Canyon Pick-6 jackpot wager will begin with a pool of $28,009.06, which will be carried over from the end of the 2019-20 season.