Challenge


Will Rogers Horses Punch Tickets For Bank of America Challenge Championship Night
Jockey Jesus Salazar rides Spit N Salt to victory in the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge final on Sunday.

© Coady Photography
Will Rogers Horses Punch Tickets For Bank of America Challenge Championship Night

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 28, 2014—Four more challenge enrolled horses punched their ticket for the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Prairie Meadows October 18th by garnering wins in their respective races at Will Rogers Downs on Sunday afternoon.

The Northeastern Oklahoma racetrack hosted the Adequan Derby Challenge, John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Red Cell Distance Challenge and the Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge on Sunday's card.

Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge

Fastest qualifier Spit N Salt went wire-to-wire Sunday defeating Teller Ima Winner by 1˝ lengths in the $42,210 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge. I Bleed Red finished a nose back in the show position.

Spit N Salt, under jockey Jesus Salazar, winning the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge final on Sunday.
© Coady Photography
Ridden by jockey Jesus Salazar, the Spit Curl Jess 3-year-old completed his 400 yard task in a quick :19.749 seconds, a 96 speed index. The $19,417 winner's purse swelled his bankroll to over $44,000. Owned-and-trained by Rodrigo Covarrubias the brown gelding has won four of 13 career starts.

JK Running Horses, LLC bred Spit N Salt in Oklahoma from the Salt Lake (TB) mare Salty And Steady (TB). His next start should be the $200,000-Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) at Prairie Meadows October 18.

No match for the winner Teller Ima Winner races for owner Jose Cruz Villa Franco and trainer Carlos Ruiz Chavez. Paul Nieto was aboard the Bobby D. Cox Oklahoma bred son of multiple stakes sire Teller Cartel. Out of the Strawfly Special mare Beauty N The Beach, Teller Ima Winner earned $8,442 for the effort.

I Bleed Red is an Oklahoma-bred son of Red Storm Cat from the Special Leader mare Secret In Stone. Twisted S Ranch is the owner and Luz Chavira handles training duties. James Flores rode the Marty and Shalia Powers bred gelding. He picked up $4,221.

Completing the field were SM Chicks N Garters, Vh Won, No Secret Winner, Captain Cash, Nudi Suit and Ricky Separate.

John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge

First Ginlark pushed his head in front in the final strides after dueling Heza Valiant Hero throughout in Sunday's $39,420 John Deere Juvenile Challenge at Will Rogers Downs. Fastest qualifier Political Debut put in a game effort to finish half-a-length back in third.

Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. rides First Ginlark to victory in the John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile on Sunday afternoon. © Coady Photography
Ridden by champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., First Ginlark completed the 350 yards in :17.570 seconds to earn a 95 speed index. The My First Moon filly bounced off a third place effort in the September 14 trials to pocket the winning check valued at $18,133.

Joe Neff conditions the sorrel miss for owner Dustin Cox. Alejandro Moya bred First Ginlark in Texas from the Mr Jess Perry mare Ginlark Perry. A winner of three of seven career starts, she has earned $37,156 this season and should make her next start in the $150,000 Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) on October 18 at Prairie Meadows.

Eddie D. Willis saddled Heza Valiant Hero to his second place effort for owner Reliance Ranches, LLC. Paul Tonderum bred the Valiant Hero gelding in Oklahoma from the Heza Fast Man mare Blissful Beth. Ridden by Jimmy D. Brooks, Heza Valiant Hero earned $7,884.

Fastest qualifier Political Debut picked up $3,942 for third. The Apollitical Jess daughter races for Garza Laurel Partnership LLC. Bobby D. Cox bred the sorrel miss in Texas from the First Down Dash mare Sizzling Lola. Francisco Calderon was aboard for trainer Gerry McLean.

Completing the field were Valiant Flame, Lockie Jane, Black Jack Corona Up, Sgt Rock, First Sassy Timer, Stoli My Luck and Jess Alota Fly.

Red Cell Will Rogers Distance Challenge

Under jockey Ty Kennedy, Srd Bobwirebob won the $44,120 Red Cell Will Rogers Distance Challenge with authority Sunday afternoon. The 5-year-old defeated Pepperchew by 1 ˝ lengths. Chase This Chick was three-quarter back in the show position.

Ty Kennedy rides Srd Bobwirebob to victory in the Red Cell Will Rogers Distance Challenge on Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Photography
Henry Smith saddled the Coronas Prospect gelding to his fourth career win in 28 starts. The $16,229 winner's purse boosted his lifetime mark to over $87,000. Srd Bobwirebob completed the 870 yard course in :45.959 seconds, a 90 speed index.

The bay is an Oklahoma homebred for Sheila Dorgan from the Lasley's Express (TB) mare Shouldabeenjoebob (TB). His next start should be the $125,000 Guaranteed Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship(G1) on Saturday, October 18 at Prairie Meadows.

Mollie Devereaux saddled Pepperchew for owner S and S Cattle Company. Agustin Silva had the riding call aboard the Royal Blue Chew Chew 5-year-old out of Cayenne Pepper (TB) by Cognizant (TB). Bred in Oklahoma by Roney Steffen, the gray gelding earned $6,955 for his second place finish.

Chase This Chick took a big step up off a $15,000 Claiming victory at Fair Meadows on July 18 to finish third for owner/trainer Virgil Sitsler. Sitsler co-owns the Country Chicks Man 6-year-old with Teresa Sitsler. Dean Spears bred the sorrel gelding in Oklahoma from the Dash Easy mare Boppem Easy. Mario Delgado was aboard to earn $3,4778.

Heavy favorite Emperor Valerian stumbled early but put in a late bid under jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. to finish fourth. My Bandera Beauty, Furyinmypants and Teller Shez Home completed the field.

Zoetis Will Rogers Starter Allowance Challenge

Melovemetwo was an impressive 1˝ length wire-to-wire winner over Dashin Favorite in the $18,180 Zoetis Will Rogers Starter Allowance Challenge on Sunday afternoon. Knockout The Fire finished a neck behind in third place.

Melovemetwo, under jockey, G.R. Carter, Jr. cruises to an easy win in the Zoetis Will Rogers Starter Allowance Challenge. © Coady Photography
Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. rode the Furyofthewind filly over the 350 yards in quick :17.529 clocking to earn a 96 speed index. Toby Keeton conditions the sorrel miss for owner David Robinson. Bobby Briscoe bred the seven-time winning 4-year-old in Texas from the This Too Shall Pass mare Pats Special Rose.

The $8,545 winner's purse boosted her lifetime earnings mark past $50,000. Melovemetwo is expected to make her next start on October 18th in the $75,000 Guaranteed Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows.

Christian Rubalcava saddled Dashin Favorite, a 3-year-old by Bigtime Favorite, for owner Raul Rubalcava. Lukin Gilliland bred the chestnut in Texas from the Creole Dancer (TB) mare Creole Secret. He earned $3,626 for the effort.

Omar Reyes rode third place finisher Knockout The Fire for owner Racehorse, Inc. and trainer Arthur Roe Gordon. James and Marilyn Helzer bred the Walk Thru Fire 4-year-old in Texas from the Feature Mr Jess mare Feature Knockout. He picked up $1,818.

Mighty Lindy, Secret Eagles, Nena O Toole, Hiclass In Excess and Sara Baracuda completed the field. Ima Fashionista was scratched.