Challenge


Divas First Moon Best In John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge
Divas First Moon and jockey Stormy Smith splash to victory in the $50,303 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Saturday afternoon at Prairie Meadows.

© Coady Photography
Divas First Moon Best In John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 14, 2019—Post-time favorite Divas First Moon pulled away late to defeat Peves Eagleetta by a neck in the $50,303 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Saturday afternoon at Prairie Meadows. Sweet Wild Time finished 1-¼ lengths back in third.

Ridden by jockey Stormy Smith, Divas First Moon completed the 350 yards in :17.864 seconds into a 5 mph headwind on a muddy (sealed) racing surface. The $23,139 winner's purse doubled her earnings total to $43,304 .

The winning connections of Divas First Moon accept the John Deere Juvenile Challenge stakes trophy on Saturday
at Prairie Meadows. © Coady Photography
Winner of the 1889 Futurity at Canterbury two races back, Divas First Moon is a North Dakota homebred racing for owner David L. Wisdom. Robert Don Johnson saddled the daughter of champion sire First Moonflash from the Royal Quick Dash mare Shake Em Diva. She was won four of seven starts this year.

Today's win also garnered Divas First Moon a starting spot in the $125,000-est. John Deere Challenge Championship(G2) at The Downs at Albuquerque. The race will be part of the Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 26th. Runner-up Peves Eagleetta races for owner/breeder Gordon Pevehouse and trainer Clinton Crawford. Juan Pulido had the riding call aboard the Hes Relentless filly out of Pyc Eye Candy by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Bred in Oklahoma, Peves Eagleetta earned $10,061 for the effort.

Johnson and Wisdom also teamed up with third-place finisher Sweet Wild Times, a daughter One Sweet Jess from the Royal Shake Em mare Royal Wild Time. Jorge Torres rode the sorrel filly who won the NDQHRA Futurity at North Dakota Horse Park in July. She picked up $5,030 for the effort.

Fastest Leader, King Big Deal, Candy Moon Fling, Baja Bandito, One Famous Bite, Victory Candy and Anthropologi completed the field.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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 $1.8 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.