39-1 shot Hez Our
Rock wins $86,854 West Texas Maturity
Sunland Park, NM - March 6, 2010 - Let go at 39-1 odds, Hez Our Rock stormed
home a narrow winner in the $86,854 West Texas Maturity at Sunland Park
Racetrack and Casino on Saturday. Racing free of traffic problems, the improving
Quarter Horse unleashed a strong late move to overwhelm the even money favorite
Jess Dellaree by a nose in the final jumps.
Making his second start of the year, Hez Our Rock produced a career best
performance to gain his first career stakes win. His fourth career win avenged a
prior defeat to Jess Dellaree in the trials back on Feb. 19. The four-year-old
gelded son of Granite Lake earned $40,822 for owner Jose Angel Esparza of El
Paso, Texas. The winning time for the 400 yards was a good 19.49 seconds. Abdel
Torres rode the winner for trainer Salvador Soto.
Hez Our Rock lit up the tote board paying $80.20 to win, $26.40 to place and
$13.60 to show. He ranks as the biggest long shot stakes winner of the season.
Jess Dellaree, the top qualifier and even money favorite, ran well despite a
rocky start. The rangy son of Feature Mr Jess made up ground willingly in the
final stages. He found his best strides a bit too late while splitting rivals in
deep stretch. The Andres Gonzalez trainee just missed in a valiant effort. The
lightly raced runner-up has carved out 2 wins, 1 second and 1 third from 4
career starts. He was ridden by Martin Bourdieu.
Mr Jesses Corona held a brief lead midway through the dash. The 2009 West Texas
Derby winner gave way slightly and in the final stanza. He and jockey Oscar
Rincon finished a close third, beaten only a neck. Mr Jesses Corona sparked a $1
trifecta worth $3,296.90.
Live racing resumes on Sunday at 12:55 p.m. Future win and exacta wagering (pool
#2) on the Kentucky Derby plus future win wagering on the Kentucky Oaks will be
available.