Cal-bred News

$150,000 Dodge Ram/Donald Valpredo Cal Cup Sprint
JET WEST

ARCADIA, Calif. (Nov. 6, 2005) – Del Mar Yearling Sale and Barretts graduate Jet West rallied along the rail in deep stretch and held on for a nose win over defending champion Areyoutalkintome in Sunday’s $150,000 Dodge Ram/Donald Valpredo California Cup Sprint at Oak Tree at Santa Anita.

Jet West is by Western Fame, out of the Kennedy Road mare Jetinwith Kennedy, was bred by Applebite Farms, is owned by Bruce Hochman, trained by Ted West and provided the second win on the card for jockey Kent Desormeaux.

“I was concerned down the backstretch, I’d never seen a wall of horses like that,” West said. “How many were there, like six or seven going for the lead? We were on the 50-yard line there whether to go or not and I thought (Desormeaux) did the right thing by waiting and being patient. They ran fast but this horse is just made of iron.”

Said Desormeaux: “It looked like a mad dash for the lead, so I just kind of elected to let him find a quiet stride. Down the backside, he felt like he was just floating on air, he was going so well. It was an amazing feeling. And he showed how happy he was once the opportunity presented itself down the lane. When the horses spread and gave me some room, he just exploded.”

It was Jet West’s seventh win in 13 starts and raised his earnings to $274,249. He has won all three starts since being claimed for $62,500 Aug. 21 at Del Mar.

Jet West ran the six furlongs in 1:08.63 and went off at 5-1. He is a half-brother to stakes winners Jetin Excess and Jetinto Houston. He sold at Del Mar for $11,000 and re-sold at Barretts for $50,000. It was his second career stakes win after last year’s Earlene McCabe Derby.

Thor’s Echo was third. Dancing Groom was pulled up on the turn and vanned off.