Challenge


First Rate Return, Country Mans Jazz Set Top Marks In Will Rogers Challenge Trials on Sunday
First Rate Return (#4) and Histori (#3) setting the two top two times for the John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge on Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Photography
First Rate Return, Country Mans Jazz Set Top Marks In Will Rogers Challenge Trials on Sunday

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 25, 2016—Will Rogers Downs hosted trials for the Adequan Derby Challenge and the John Deere Challenge on Sunday's race card.

Challenge enrolled horses were vying for a starting spot in the top 10 who will return to the northeastern Oklahoma racetrack on Sunday, October 9th to vie for the winner's share of their respective divisions as well as an invite to compete on Bank of America Challenge Championship night, October 29th at Los Alamitos Race Course.

John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge Trials

First Rate Return, a gelding by first crop sire High Rate Of Return races to the top qualifying mark of :17.765 seconds over 350 yards by defeating Histori by a nose in the third of four trials for the $32,500-added John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge.

Jockey James Flores was aboard the sorrel gelding for trainer Gerry McLean. Terry McLean owns First Rate Return, who was making his first start since finishing 8th in the Grade 1 $1 million Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park last June.

Bred by Connie Nobles, from the First Down Dash mare Tellin It All, First Rate Turn has compiled a (4) 2-0-1 record and earned $46,897 this season.

Making just her second career start, Histori races for the Makin Histori Partnership. M. Cody McCart trains the Domimyun Oklahoma-bred from the Strawfly Special mare Modice. Bobby D. Cox is the breeder. She completed the 350 in :17.772 to get the second fastest time.

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

Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge Trials

Under jockey Agustin Silva, Country Man Jazz rolled a 4-¼ length win in the first of two trials to set the fastest qualifying time for the $32,500-added Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge. He stopped the timer at :19.464 seconds, a 103-speed index for the 400-yard course.

Country Man Jazz, under jockey Agustin Silva, set the fastest time for the Adequan Will Rogers Downs Derby on Sunday. © Coady Photography
R.L. Rick Robinson saddled the Bono Jazz gelding for owner/breeder Sarah Huskey. Fourth in the FQHRA Stallion Stakes Derby earlier this year, Country Man Jazz has won three of six starts and earned $27,040.

Bred in Texas he is out of the Country Chicks Man mare Country Mans Chick.

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