Challenge


Vallerro Sets Top Mark in John Deere PM Juvenile Trials
Prairie Meadows hosted five trials for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge on Saturday's race card.

© Coady Photography
Vallerro Sets Top Mark in John Deere PM Juvenile Trials

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 2, 2017—In just his third career start, Vallerro rolled to one-length win Saturday evening to post the fastest qualifying time for the $37,000-added John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return Saturday, September 16th to vie for the winner's share of the purse over 350 yards. Also at stake is a starting spot in the $130,000 Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) October 14th at Prairie Meadows.

Ridden by jockey Stormy Smith Vallerro completed the 350 yards in :17.576 seconds, a 95-speed index into a 10 mph crosswind. Trainer John Hammes saddled the Valiant Hero gelding for owner/breeder George Seward.

Bred in Colorado, Vallerro entered the trials off an allowance win at Arapahoe Park in July. The sorrel gelding is out of Perrys Queen Bug by Mr Jess Perry.

Trainer Stacy Charette-Hill saddled three qualifiers including second fastest Fast Prize Penelope, a daughter of first crop sire Fast Prize Jordan.

A homebred racing for the partnership of Michael Pohl and Warren Buck Elk, Sr., the filly stepped up off $10,000–tag maiden victory at Fair Meadows in June. Pohl bred the filly in Oklahoma from the Okey Dokey Dale mare Penelope Cruzin.

Pyc Paint Your Wagon sire three of 10 qualifiers.

For the complete list of John Deere PM Juvenile Challenge qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Editor's note: A photo of the fastest qualifier will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.