Challenge


Trainer Matthew Fales Saddles Hat Trick in Sunday's Turf Paradise Challenge Races
Jess A Cowboy (#6) holds off stablemate Heat Warning(#7) in the $60,480 Bank of America Turf Paradise Challenge Championship Sunday afternoon at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Photography
Trainer Matthew Fales Saddles Hat Trick in Sunday's Turf Paradise Challenge Races

PHOENIX, AZ—APRIL 30, 2017—When Jess A Cowboy defeated stablemate Heat Warning in the $60,480 Bank of America Turf Paradise Challenge Championship Sunday afternoon, it was third consecutive Challenge stakes win on Sunday's Turf Paradise card for trainer Matthew Fales.

Fales kicked off the day with a win in the Distance Challenge race with Mickey Ward then he saddled Cowgirl N Up to victory in the John Deere Turf Paradise Juvenile in the fifth. With Jess A Cowboy's win in the sixth, the trainer has now booked three horses into the rich Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 14th at Prairie Meadows.

Ridden by jockey Vince Guerra, Jess A Cowboy was in tight early, after getting bumped at the start, before prevailing by a neck in the 440-yard race. The 5-year-old son of multiple stakes sire Dejon raced over the course in :21.678 seconds, a 101-speed index into a 6-mph headwind.

Owner Larry Stark (center) accepts the Bank of America Turf Paradise Challenge Championship stakes trophy Sunday afternoon. © Coady Photography
Owned-and-bred by Larry Stark, Jess A Cowboy entered the race off a fourth-place effort in the April 8th trials. Out of the Canth mare Secret Return, the 5-year-old gelding has compiled a (21) 7-7-2 record and the $27,820 Challenge Championship winner's purse today boosted his career mark to $142,511.

Jess A Cowboy is now eligible to race in the Grade 1 $330,000-Guranteed Bank of America Challenge Championship on October 14th. He winner of that race will earn an invite to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Also, a multiple stakes winner, stablemate Heat Warning earned $12,096 for his second-place effort. Jorge Bourdieu rode the 6-year-old A Regal Choice homebred for owner/breeders Ralph and Carolyn Fales. He is out of the Dixieland Heat (TB) mare Its A Dry Heat (TB), Heat Warning. Saddled by Matthew Fales, he has earned $186,180.

Roman Soldier Cd led early but ended third to earn $6,048 for owner James Marquez and trainer Antoinette Gonzales. Felipe Garcia-Luna rode the Apolitical Jess 4-year-old out of Famous Phoebe by Dash Ta Fame. The graded stakes winner of more than $140,000 was bred in New Mexico by Cindy Dick.

Ebw Catalyst, May Be Fantastic Sa, Justified, Nucky, Quick Dynasty, Luv On The Run and Specials Gold completed the field.