Challenge


Aqua Flash Prevails In John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge
Aqha Flash (#7) rallies to catch Maghelene (#5) in the $62,190 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge on Saturday.

© Coady Photography
Aqua Flash Prevails In John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 15, 2018—Bumped at the start fastest qualifier Aqua Flash, under jockey Roberto Valero, rallied strongly to catch Maghelene by a neck in the $62,190 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge on Saturday. Beduino Painted Dash finished one-length back for third.

Aqua Flash completed the 350 yards in :17.744 seconds, equaling a 92 speed index, to get her fourth career win from five starts this season. The $28,607 winner's purse boosted her bankroll past $103,000.

Trainer Shawana Manriquez saddled the daughter champion sire First Moonflash for owner Thomas Scheckel, who purchased the gray filly for $8,700 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale last September.

Bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock LLC, Aqua Flash is out of the First Down Dash mare Aquafina, a sister to world champion Wave Carver and champion Ocean Runaway. Aqua Flash's only off-the-board performance came in a troubled start in the $1.23 million Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park last June.

Owner Thomas Scheckel purchased runner-up Maghelene, a daughter of world champion sire One Famous Eagle, at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale for $45,000. Jason Olmstead trains the filly out of Rainbow Futurity(G1) runner-up Belle Helene by Valiant Hero. The multiple stakes-placed filly earned $12,438 for the effort to bring her total earnings to $47,636. Cristian Esqueda had the riding call.

Both Scheckel-owned 2-year-olds also earned a starting spot in the November 17th $125,000 Estimated John Deere Juvenile Challenge(G2) Championship to be contested at Los Alamitos Race Course on Bank of America Challenge Championship night.

Jose Antonio Mora's Beduino Painted Dash double his earnings after pocketing $6,219 for finishing third. Jeffrey Rutland conditions the Kansas-bred son of Painted Dash who won for a $15,000 tag at Fair Meadows just two races back. Oswaldo Simental bred the bay gelding from the Beduino Royal mare Queen Jiggly. Jesus Salazar had the riding assignment. is the breeder.

Jess My Joy, Sw Bullet Proof, Dowhatigotta, Fancy As It Gets, Ima Jj Junior and Chicken Lips completed the field. Maybe Painted was scratched.

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About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $1.6 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers more than 1,700 slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.