Q-RACING JOURNAL—OCTOBER 18, 2014—Michael C. Teel’s homebred AJs High continued his upward trend on Saturday night at Prairie Meadows as the Apollitical Jess gelding overcame a less-than-perfect start to capture the $151,500 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2).

In tight at the start, AJs High and jockey Stormy Smith went on to score a game victory by a half-length with a 350-yard clocking in :17.323. Charley Hunt was the winning trainer of the 5-2 favorite.

“Charlie and Stormy are the ones to thank,” said Teel. “They’re the ones that do all the work. We just bred the mare.”

“He didn’t get away great; the 1 and 3 bumped us, but then my horse ran his tail off,” said Smith. “I’m becoming a fan of those Apollitical Jesses.”

The Oklahoma-bred AJs High debuted with a third-place finish at Remington Park in a trial for the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity (RG3) and then finished seventh in the final. After that, he won a trial and the final of the John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge. The gelding has now earned $128,485 in five starts.

Million Dollar Kiss, a 29-1 longshot with Eddie Aceves riding for trainer Mike Taylor and owner Jerry Chapman, finished a clear second. The Jess Louisiana Blue filly is out of the Stoli mare Stoli Kiss.

Michael Amburn’s Ocean Runaway gelding Freakin Runaway came in from Texas to grab third for trainer Guy Hopkins and jockey Larry Payne. Todd Fincher and Fred Alexander bred the 2-year-old from the Streakin La Jolla mare Streakin Freakin.

Coronas Concierge, El Rayito de Luna, First Ginlark, Ynot Walk, Smoke On The Water, Jumping Guitar and Jess Curl My Prize completed the field.

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