Challenge


Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Trials Draw 38 Sophomores
Vanessa Bartoo's stakes winning filly Watergirl B will head four trials on Friday for the Adequan Retama Derby Challenge.

© Coady Photography
Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Trials Draw 38 Sophomores

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SELMA, TX—JUNE 26, 2017—Watergirl B, a graded stakes winning daughter of Game Patriot owned by Vanessa Bartoo of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico, is one of 38 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s 400-yard Adequan Retama Derby Challenge trials at Retama Park.

Watergirl B has earned $365,477 from eight starts, and her resume includes a half-length victory at odds of 42-1 in last year’s 350-yard, $690,000 Lee Berwick Futurity (RG1) for Louisiana-breds at Delta Downs. Trained by John Stinebaugh, the filly drew post 9 and will be ridden by Gilbert Ortiz in the last of four trials.

Sandra Garnett-Tatom’s Let Em Fly will be shortening in distance off of his one-length victory against older horses in the 440-yard, $20,000 Hill Country Stakes at the Gillespie County Fair on July 1. A sorrel son of Mighty Invictus trained by Esteban Rubio, the gelding drew post 5 and will be ridden by Noe Villatoro in the first heat.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the August 12, $25,000-added Adequan Retama Derby Challenge final.

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