CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 14, 2014—Challenge enrolled horses hoping to lock in a starting spot in the Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 18th at Prairie Meadows participated in Racing Challenge trials Sunday for the John Deere Juvenile and Adequan Derby at Will Rogers Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from each set of trials will return to Will Rogers Downs on September 27 and 28 and vie not only for the winner's share of their respective purses, but also a starting spot in the either the $200,000-Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) or the $150,000-Guaratneed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2).

John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Trials

Making her first start since a second place effort in the John Deere Retama Park trials in July, Political Debut got up in the final strides to defeat Sgt Rock by half-a-length in the first of three trials Sunday for the $27,500-added John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge.

Under jockey Francisco Calderon the daughter of leading first crop sire Apollitical Jess recorded the top qualifying time of :17.850 seconds for the 350 yards. It was the second win in five starts this season for the Gerry McLean trainee.

Garza Laurel Partnership, LLC owns the sorrel miss who was bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox. She is out of the First Down Dash mare Sizzling Lola.

Returning from an unsuccessful summer campaign in Ruidoso, Heza Valiant Hero broke his maiden in the final trial with an impressive one-length win in a time of :17.905 seconds. Ridden by jockey Jimmy Brooks, the Valiant Hero gelding bobbled the start but still recovered to record the second fastest qualifying time.

Eddie D. Willis trains the 2-year-old Oklahoma-bred, from the Heza Fast Man mare Blissful Beth, for Reliance Ranches, LLC. Paul Tonderum is the breeder.

Stepping up from a maiden claiming win at $10,000 in her last start, Jess Alota Fly got her second consecutive win in the second trial to post the fifth fastest time of :18.062 seconds. Rodney Reed conditions the homebred Fly Jess Fly filly for Steve Holt. Out of the Shazoom mare Lotawatah, Jess Alota Fly is (7) 2-2-0 this season and has earned $14,342. Agustin Silva had the riding call.

For the complete list of John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Adequan Will Rogers Derby Trials

Claimed for $6,250 just two races back, Spit N Salt scored a half-length victory in the first two trails Sunday for the $32,500-added Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge. Ridden by jockey Jesus Salazar, for owner/trainer Rodrigo Covarrubias, the Spit Curl Jess gelding recorded the top qualifying time of :19.970 seconds, a 93 speed index over the 400 yards.

JK Running Horses bred the three-time winner from 12 starts in Oklahoma from the Salt Lake (TB) mare Salty And Steady (TB). He has eared $24,896.

Clinton Crawford saddled graded stakes-placed winner Sm Chicks N Garters to a neck win over Ricky Seperate in the second trial. Ridden by jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., the Country Chicks Man colt posted the second fastest time of :19.918, a 92 speed index.

The Oklahoma-homebred for Rafter SM Ranch finished third in the $385,750 Black Gold Futurity Championship(RG3) last November at Will Rogers Downs. He has earned nearly $75,000.

Also entering the trials off a $12,500 claiming win at Remington Park in May, the aforementioned Ricky Separate held on to the third fastest time of :19.948, a 91 speed index. Owned by Allen and Camy Hysbsha and trained by Allen, the Inseperable gelding is (7) 2-1-1 this season and has earning of $24,688. The Hysbsha homebred is from the Royal Quick Dash mare Quick Meggie.

For a complete list of Adequan Will Rogers Derby finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.