Shiny Nova ridden by Gabriel Medrano, battles to the wire to secure his fourth consecutive victory in the Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ–APRIL 16, 2026– Shiny Nova surged to victory in the $37,800 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge at Turf Paradise, stopping the clock in :21.430 seconds while earning a 98 speed index for jockey Gabriel Medrano and trainer Matt Fales.

The sorrel gelding, a homebred for J.P. Sample, dueled throughout and prevailed by a neck in a strong battle.

Sired by Racy Casanova and out of the stakes-winning First To Shine mare Alltheshine, Shiny Nova improved his record to 21-13-1-1 with earnings of $158,957 after collecting the $17,766 winner’s share.

The winning connections of Shiny Nova accept the $ $37,800 Bank of America Turf Paradise Championship Challenge at Turf Paradise on Thursday. © Coady Media

He is now riding a four-race win streak that includes the Allred Brothers Stakes earlier this season, and previously captured both the Bitterroot Futurity (G3) and Bitterroot Derby.

Multiple champion KJ Desparado finished second under Noe Garcia Jr., posting a 97 speed index and finishing just a neck behind the winner after a game effort. Owned by John and Kathy Lee and Ruben Mares and trained by Wesley Giles, the gelding is by leading sire Apollitical Jess, whose progeny have earned more than $83.2 million.

KJ Desparado now holds an outstanding record of 33-18-9-0 with earnings exceeding $3.3 million. His record includes seven Grade 1 victories, highlighted by the All American Futurity, Texas Classic Futurity, Ruidoso Derby, Texas Classic Derby, All American Gold Cup, and two wins in the Refrigerator Championship Stakes. He is out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Veses.

Third-place finisher Mr Snootie Cartel, ridden by Manuel Americano, recorded a 93 speed index after finishing evenly with a clear path but no late rally. The gelding is owned by Aaron Zazueta Grijalva, trained by Jesus Ortega Sr., and bred by Ronald and Jeryl Hartley.

Sired by Mr Ease Cartel and out of the Favorite Cartel mare Snootie Socialite, he now carries a record of 14-3-2-5 with earnings of $52,074. The effort snapped a three-race win streak that included his first two starts of the season. He was also third in the Arizona Downs Juvenile Challenge and a finalist in multiple stakes events.

Shaundas Eagle finished fourth and was followed by Zooming Dynasty, CD Favorite Lady, Set The Edge, Apollitical Seis, and Iam Outta Here.

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