Challenge


Wood Dominates Merial Trials, Qualifies Four Head
Visual Magic, under jockey Ricky Ramirez, setting the top qualifying time in Saturday's Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge trials.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Wood Dominates Merial Trials, Qualifies Four Head

GRAND PRARIE, TX—SEPTEMBER 19, 2015—Trainer Trey Wood dominated two trials for the Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge on Saturday qualifying four head for the October 3 $30,000-added final.

Visual Magic, a daughter of leading sire Corona Cartel, won the second trial by 1¼-lengths to set the top qualifying mark of :19.669 seconds, a 94 speed index over the 400 yard course.

Owned by Turner Farms, the filly entered the trials off a tough derby season at Ruidoso where she won her trial for Rainbow Derby(G1), finished second in her trial for the Ruidoso Derby(G1) and was third in her last start to eventual $2.8 million All American Derby(G1) winner Apollitical Blood.

Ricky Ramirez was aboard the California-bred filly out of Tender Flyer, by Strawfly Special. Her record stands at (8) 3-2-2 with $27,314 in earnings.

Wood also saddled 3rd fastest Rebas Corona Eagle, 7th fastest Cheyenne Hero and 9th fastest Streakin Thru Fire.

Last year's Texas Classic Derby(G1) winner Lil Famous Dash finished second in Visual Magic's trial to get the second fastest clocking of :19.906. Steven Kearl saddled the Texas homebred for owner/breeder Scarlett Hill Farm, Inc.. The daughter of leading sire One Famous Eagle is out Dash Master Miss, by Dash For Destiny.

Trainer Cindi Keeton got two finalist including a win in the first trial by Melovemetwo, under champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. The 5-year-old daughter of Furyofthewind qualified 5th fastest with a :20.050 clocking.

David Robinson owns the 10-time winner of more than $71,000. Bobby Briscoe bred Melovemetwo in Texas from the This Too Shall Pass mare Pats Special Rose.

Keeton's other qualifier, also ridden by Carter, was fourth fastest Kiss The Tears Away who finished fourth in the first trial. Also by Furyofthewind, the 4-year-old mare is owned-and-bred by Briscoe.

For the complete list of Merial Lone Star Distaff finalists, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.