Challenge


Captain On Takeoff Headlines Rillito Bonus Challenge
Captain On Takeoff headlines a full field in Saturday’s 330-yard, $10,000-added AQHA Rillito Bonus Challenge Stakes at historic Rillito Park.

© Coady Photography
Captain On Takeoff Headlines Rillito Bonus Challenge

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

TUCSON, AZ—FEBRUARY 18, 2017—Joel Merino Gamez’s Captain On Takeoff headlines a full field of eight sprinters entered in Saturday’s 330-yard, $10,000-added AQHA Rillito Bonus Challenge Stakes at historic Rillito Park.

Captain On Takeoff will be shortening in distance and dropping in class off of his fifth-place finish in the 350-yard, $50,000 KOFX-FM Handicap (G2) at Sunland Park on January 29. The 5-year-old Captain Courage gelding drew the rail post and will be ridden by Justine Klaiber for trainer Tomas Moreno.

Jess Call Me Fancy, a 4-year-old daughter of Jess Give It Em owned and trained by Raymond Felix, will make her season debut from post 3. The mare won three of six starts last year, including a stakes race at Douglas, Arizona, and earned $21,465.

Carlos Marquez has been named to ride Jess Call Me Fancy.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments--

  1. Captain On Takeoff (Justin Klaiber)
  2. Pony Drive (Emilio Tapia)
  3. Jess Call Me Fancy (Carlos W. Marquez)
  4. Phoebesdynasty (Mauro Salcedo)
  5. Askin For Trouble (Jesus Osuna)
  6. Specials Gold (Luis R. Yescas)
  7. Mr JB Perry (Julian Serrano)
  8. Hope On The Rocks (Michael Ybarra).

All Rillito Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.