Denalia Sweet Jess Uses Final Kick To Win Sams Town Stakes

Denalia Sweet Jess (#4) gets up over Prized Dimon (#3) and Swags (#2) in the $30,000 Sam's Town Stakes at Evangeline Downs Friday night.

© Coady Photography

OPELOUSAS, LA—DECEMBER 16 2022—With a final kick under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., post-time favorite Denalia Sweet Jess defeated Prized Dimon by a nose in the $30,000 Sam's Town Stakes Friday at Evangeline Downs. Swags finished a head back in the blanket-finish to take third.

Conditioned by trainer Fernando Valdez, Denalia Sweet Jess completed the 350 yards in :17.486 seconds, equaling a 94 speed index, to pick up the winner's purse valued at $18,000.

Racing for owner Jose Rodriguez the son of multiple stakes sire One Sweet Jess has won six of 13 career starts and earned $184,983. He won the Evangeline Downs Derby last year.  Russell Mowad bred the gray colt from the Chicks Beduino mare Denali Chick.

The winning connections of Denalia Sweet Jess accept the Sams Town Stakes trophy at Evangeline Downs Friday night. © Coady Photography

Runner-up Prized Dimon picked up $5,000 for his second-place effort. Trainer Janessa Muniz named jockey Edgar Mata to ride the daughter of multiple stakes sire Prized Wagon for owner Mauricio Garza. Roy Garza bred the filly from the Royal Blue Chew Chew mare DQs Chew Chew. She has earned $44,015 in 15 starts.

Third-place finisher Swags earned $2,750 for owner Luciano Gutierrez, IV. Adrian Huitron sent out the son of champion Kiss My Hocks from the Separatist mare Check The Account. Bred in Oklahoma by Haskell Evans, Swags was ridden by jockey Jorge Garcia. He is a graded stakes-placed earner of $74,442.

One Sweet Boss, One Fast Perry, Jess Perfect Moon, Other World and Mr Teco completed the field.

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For more information on the American Quarter Horse season at Evangeline Downs, visit the track's website evdracing.com. Evangeline Downs' Twitter handle is @EVDRacing and the racetrack is also accessible on Facebook at www.facebook.com/EvangelineDownsRacing.

About Evangeline Downs
Evangeline Downs Racetrack Casino and Hotel, a property of Boyd Gaming Corporation (NYSE:BYD), features exciting casino action, live horse racing and fun dining experiences. Evangeline Downs is located in Opelousas, Louisiana, off I-49 on Cresswell Lane at Exit 18.