Challenge


One Proud Eagle Takes John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship
One Proud Eagle, under jockey Tony Guymon, winning the $151,250 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

© Scott Martinez
One Proud Eagle Takes John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship

Q-RACING JOURNAL—OCTOBER 29, 2016—Tony Guymon rode 2-1 second choice One Proud Eagle to a half-length victory in the 350-yard, $151,250 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

Trained by John Cooper for owner Ron Hartley, One Proud Eagle stopped the timer in :17.525 while posting a 94 speed index and earning his fourth win in seven outs and second graded stakes score.

Hartley bred One Proud Eagle in California. The gray gelding is by One Famous Eagle out of Guy Chasing, a winning daughter of the First Down Dash stallion Fishers Dash, and he was coming off of a fourth-place finish in a 350-yard PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity (G3) trial on September 11.

The winning connections of One Proud Eagle include owner/breeder Ron Hartley and trainer John Cooper.
© Scott Martinez
Earlier this season, One Proud Eagle assembled a three-race win streak that included a one-length victory in the 300-yard, $428,000 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity (G3). His record includes a second-place run, three-quarters of a length behind winner Kissed By An Eagle, in the August 20, $45,000 John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge.

The $69,575 winner's share of the purse pushed One Proud Eagle's bankroll to $264,105.

"This is a very nice 2-year-old," said Hartley of One Proud Eagle. "To win the Kindergarten and come back later in the year takes a special horse."

Born To B Bad picked up $30,250 for his runner-up effort. Melissa Slayton and Cody Bowling own the son of second crop sire Freighttrain B from the Separatist mare Dosvedanya.. Tammy Kay Johnson conditioned with Adrian Ramos riding.

Third place finisher, 17-10 favorite Kissed By An Eagle, races for owner/breeders Mark and Peggy Brown. Rafael Orozco saddled the One Famous Eagle gelding out of Dreaming Of Kisses, by Legendary Dreamer. Ridden by Cesar DeAlba the Idaho bred earned $15,125.

Stelfast, Faster Than Hasta, Fooseability, Hoot And Holler, Apollitical Boogie, and Rpainted Pistol completed the order of finish.

Paint A Candy Storm flipped in the starting gate and was scratched by the stewards on advice of the track veterinarian.

"My horse was super focused," said Guymon. "I was worried when (Paint A Candy Storm) flipped, but we backed this horse out without a scratch. He didn't have a great start, but he really powered home."

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