Challenge


Kr Hi Five Dominates Adequan California Regional Derby Challenge
Kr High Five, under jockey Jose Nicasio, winning the $34,315 Adequan California Regional Derby Challenge Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez
Kr Hi Five Dominates Adequan California Regional Derby Challenge

CYPRESS, CA—MAY 26, 2019—Multiple stakes winner Kr Hi Five stumbled at the start but recovered quickly under jockey Jose Nicasio to defeat Hez Jess A Secret by half-a-length in the $34,315 Adequan California Regional Derby Challenge Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The son of leading second-crop sire Five Bar Cartel completed the 400 yards in a :19.900 seconds, earning an 89 speed-index. It was the sixth win for the Colorado-bred 3-year-old who has raced exclusively at Los Alamitos since last August.

Conditioned by trainer Jaime Gomez, Kr Hi Five won the Wild West Futurity and the AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course in 2018. He races for owner/breeders Sally and Dave Kidd. He is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare I Bee Phia.

The winning connections of Kr Hi Five, trainer Jaime Gomez, jockey Jose Nicasio and owners Sally and David Kidd accept the Adequan California Derby Challenge trophy at Los Alamitos. © Soctt Martinez
Tonight's win worth $17,157 pushes the gray geldings earnings mark to $156,433. The victory also punches him another ticket to the Bank America Challenge Championship Night, to be held this year at The Downs at Albuquerque on October 26th . He earned a spot in the $150,000-est. Grade 3 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship.

Mark and Peggy Brown's Idaho homebred Hez Jess A Secret lugged out past the 1/8th pole under jockey Jonathan Roman. The son of third-crop sire Hez Our Secret earned $7,378 for second.

The Adequan California Regional Derby Challenge is the first black type effort for the Roman Figueroa trainee. Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Jessa Techick, Hez Jess A Secret has banked $15,336.

Trainer Mark Skeen saddled Bolt For Gold, a son of Favorite Cartel who finished a neck back to take third for owner/breeders Mesa Valley Farms LLC. Cruz Mendez rode the Utah-bred gelding out of Sheza Hot Catch by Corona Caliente. The multiple stakes-placed gelding picked up $3,775 for the effort to bring his earnings mark to $27,390.

Unwavering Patriot, Loan Sharky and Sassy Favorite completed the field.