Ivory Noche, under jockey Damian Martinez, setting the fastest time in Saturday's John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX—JULY 29, 2017—K and W Land and Cattle Co.’s homebred Ivory Noche rolled to a 1¾ length victory in the second trial Saturday to post the fastest time for the John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge.

Ridden by jockey Juan Garcia, Jr., Ivory Noche, a son of Ivory James out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Dia Noche broke from the far outside post, driving to the top mark of :17.723 seconds, a 99 speed index. Brian Stroud conditions the bay gelding, who picked up his third win from five starts this evening. Sent off as the even-money favorite, Ivory Noche paid $4.20 for the win.

Stroud and Garcia teamed up to win three of the six trials, also qualifying Roses Dancer for owner Lovel A. Blain III and Flat Broke Racing’s The Cartel Warrior.

Mystical Jess ($5.20), bred and owned by Juan Lozano, Jr., set the second-fastest clocking of the night, winning the fifth trial in :17.757 seconds under jockey Damian Martinez. <> The Apollitical Jess filly broke her maiden tonight in her fourth career start by a margin of two lengths. A homebred for Lozano, Mystical Jess is out of the Dash Thru Traffic mare Traffic Juana. Josue Ponce trains Mystical Jess.

The final will take place on Saturday, August 12 with the winner advancing to $130,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Prairie Meadows on October 14.

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