Challenge


One Sweet Merlot, My Moment Of Fame Punch Championship Tickets Through Texas
One Sweet Merlot, under jockey Noe VIllatoro, easily winning the John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge Saturday at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography
One Sweet Merlot, My Moment Of Fame Punch Championship Tickets Through Texas

SELMA, TX—AUGUST 13, 2016—One Sweet Merlot and My Moment Of Fame earned themselves a starting spot on the Bank of America Challenge Championships Night, October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course, by winning their respective regional divisions during Retama Park's closing night card on Saturday.

John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge

The lightly raced One Sweet Merlot used a late stretch run, under jockey Noe VIllatoro, to defeat Shez Freaky by half-a-length in the $75,870 John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge on Saturday. Fastest qualifier Desdemona Rambler finished a neck back after breaking in and bumping at the start.

Saddled by current national leading trainer Judd Kearl, One Sweet Merlot completed the 350 yards in :17.732 seconds, a 97-speed index. It was the second win in three starts for the daughter of second crop sire One Sweet Jess. The $34,900 winners' purse boosted her earnings mark to just over $37,000.

The winning connections of One Sweet Merlot accept the John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge stakes trophy.
© Coady Photography
Kearl purchased the colt from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale for owners David Jones and Mark Cowan. He is out of the graded stakes winning Heza Fast Dash mare Onemoreglassofwine.

The Vessels Stallion Farm LLC Oklahoma-bred could make his next start in the $150,000 Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Championship(G2) on October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Shez Freaky put in a late rush under jockey Esgar Ramirez to get second place for owner Mario Lozano-Cantu. Rolando Almanza conditions the Tr Dasher Texas-bred from the Dashin Bye mare Dulce Bye N Bye. Bred by MacEdonio Lozano, she earned $15,174.

Third in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity earlier this year, Desdemona Rambler races for owner/breeder Dan Grube. Brian Stroud conditions the Tempting Dash colt from the Fredricksburg mare Kritters Effort. Ridden by Damian Martinez, the sorrel colt banked $7,587 to bring his earnings total to for the year to $71,587.

Strawfly Tac, Trashy Tres, Cartelita, Tac It Perry, Love Ta Zoom, Borger Boy and Audited completed the field.

Adequan Retama Derby Challenge

My Moment Of Fame broke out sharply under jockey Luis Vivanco then flew late to go from last-to-first by a nose over Mazzimo in the $43,200 Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Saturday night at Retama Park. Brookside finished a head back in a blanket finish for third.

My Moment Of Fame (#10), under jockey Luis Vivanco, noses Mozzimo (#6) and Brookside (#1) to win the Adequan Retama Derby. © Coady Photography
Angel Sanchez saddled the multiple stakes winner to his sixth win in 11 starts for owner Holly Hooper. The Jumpn Chic gelding completed the 400-yard course in :20.043 seconds to earn a 92-speed index with a 7 mph tailwind.

Sarah Huskey bred the sorrel gelding in Texas from the Relagate (TB) mare Epiphany. Winner of the Ben E. Keith Stakes two races back, My Moment In Fame earned $19,872 to bring his bankroll to nearly $75,000.

The win also guarantees My Moment In Time a starting spot in the Grade 3 $200,000 Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The winning connections of My Moment Of Fame accept the Adequan Retama Derby Challenge stakes trophy.
© Coady Photography
Jorge Haddad's bred-owned and trained multiple stakes-placed Mazzimo earned $8,640 for his second place effort. Esgar Ramirez rode the son of leading second crop sire The Louisiana Cartel from the multiple graded stakes producer Los Alamitos, by First Down Dash. He has compiled a (9) 2-3-0 record and earned $25,693.

Leon Bard saddled Brookside, a daughter of champion sire Brookstone Bay, for owner/breeder Linda Loftis Tobias. Nestor Duran rode the Texas-bred filly out of I Fly American, by American Champ (TB). He picked up $4,320 for the effort to bring his earnings total to $14,590.

Kid Can Dash, Tellereyematthebar, Sure Fire Flyer, Mad Max Cartel, Lord Of Reason Br, Go Binskey Bear Go and Pure D Rocket completed the field.