Q-RACING JOURNAL—OCTOBER 18, 2014—The Bank of America Challenge Championships at Prairie Meadows on Saturday night kicked off with five stakes races—two stakes for Iowa-breds, one open derby and two undercard stakes for Challenge-enrolled horses—followed by the six Challenge Championships races with total purses of nearly $1 million. Following is a recap of two of the undercard stakes:

$20,000 John Deere Stakes

Three-year-olds took to the track to lead off the card in the $20,000 John Deere Stakes, and Richard Tobin’s Jess Glory scored by a half-length under jockey David Pinon.

Bred by Johnny Trotter and trained by Alex Wessels, the Oklahoma-bred gelding by Mr Jess Perry dashed 400 yards in :19.742 for his first stakes victory. This win improved his record to 13-4-4-1 with earnings of $49,314.

Jim Walker’s homebred Time For Jesse Lee, trained by Monty Arrossa, hit the board for the 18th time in 21 starts with a second-place finish. The gelding is by Mr Jesse Lee.

Jesstastic, a 29-1 longshot running for owner Charlton Hunt and trainer Charley Hunt, closed to take third. He is by leading New Mexico sire Jesse James Jr.

Sizzlin Mr Perry, Shazoomin Rose, Fearless Cat and Cr Strawfly Bux completed the field. Lucky Star 123 was scratched.

$20,000 Markel Stakes

In the $20,000 Markel Stakes for 2-year-olds, 9-5 favorite U C Me Streakin closed strongly on the outside to get up by three-quarters of a length under jockey David Pinon.

Breaking from post 10, the filly by Tac It Like a Man dashed 350 yards in :17.451. Patrick Swan trans the Texas-bred for owner C.A. Cofer. Bred by Dan and Erin Knox, U C Me Streakin has now won three of four career starts with a second-place finish in her lone defeat. She has banked $27,828.

Mr El R 15, a Jess Louisiana Blue gelding bred, owned and trained by Miguel Banuelos, had an early lead and held on for second.

Longshot Classy In Red, a Red Storm Cat filly trained by Jason Olmstead and owned by Leo Butell and Mike Schau, closed well for third.

Hayjay, Hey Hey Hey Hey, Carex, Cowboy Sexy, Majestic Policy, One Famous Feather and Pyc Powerwagon completed the field.

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