OKLAHOMA CITY – Saturday, March 23, 2019 —Jess Proved Youwrong (Heritage Place Graduate) got off to a tough start in the Grade 3, $255,750 Oklahoma Derby on Saturday night at Remington Park, getting squeezed by rivals at the start. Jockey James Flores managed to get her rolling and after being ninth early, finally got her in gear and what a gear it was as the 3-year-old filly burst to the wire not to be denied.
The 2-1 wagering favorite hit the wire in 17.440 seconds in the 350-yard race and earned a 92 speed index for her efforts over the fast track.
“The horse responded excellent,” Flores said. “I just rode her, and rode her all the way past the wire and she got the win. I couldn’t have done it without the opportunity and the support of everybody.”
Since trainer Amanda Tongay has added this filly to her barn in 2019, Jess Proved Youwrong, a daughter of Apollitical Jess, out of the Strawfly Special mare Oh Strawfly Go, is unbeaten in two starts under her watch.
“I didn’t have her last year, but over the winter she seemed to mature and we have her where she’s settled down,” Tongay said. “I was really nervous when she got squeezed back, but she has a lot heart and we knew that she would try.”
Tongay trains Jess Proved Youwrong for owners Jose Guzman and Rito Sosa of Blanchard, Okla. They banked $102,300 for the win. Jess Proved Youwrong bumped up her lifetime earnings to $131,712. It was her first stakes win. She won by a head over 14-1 longshot Americas Dynasty, who was a half-length ahead of third place finisher Tarish.
Jess Proved Youwrong was bred in Oklahoma by Rex &/or Sue Cox.
The victory aboard Jess Proved Youwrong was the fourth of six on the night for Flores. He has now the Oklahoma Derby in successive years, scoring in 2018 aboard La Vencedora, also trained by Tongay.
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