Challenge


His Time to Deal Fastest in Retama John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials
His Time to Deal, under jockey Jose Vega, drives to the fastest qualifying time for the John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge on Friday night at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography
His Time to Deal Fastest in Retama John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials

SELMA, TX—JULY 3, 2020—His Time to Deal leads the qualifier list after three trials for the Retama John Deere Juvenile Challenge on Friday night.

His Time to Deal won the first trial to set the fastest time of the night, 18.130. It would remain the fastest trial of the night, and the top three finishers are the three fastest qualifiers.

His Time to Deal ($19.80) won convincingly under Jose Vega as the pair separated themselves from the rest of the field by a length and earned an 82 speed index. The gelding is trained by Leon Bard. Like all but one of the horses in the first trial, it was the first career start for His Time to Deal.

His Time to Deal is owned and bred by Pete Scarmardo in Texas, by Dealagame and out of Lady Lilia, by First Down Dash. Lady Lilia is out of the multiple graded stakes winning mare Lady Tenaya, who won the AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Lone Star in 2002.

Elegant Tres led the charge for second place and was the second fastest qualifier in 18.306. It was the career debut for the Tres Seis filly, who was bred in Oklahoma by Dr. Steve Hurlburt, out of the Corona Cartel mare Elegant Debut.

Elegant Tres was ridden by Kelsi Purcell for trainer John Stinebaugh and owner Mary Katherine Dick. Stinebaugh trains three of the ten qualifiers.

Third place finisher Im Jess Dashing was third-fastest in 18.363 for jockey Jose Martinez and trainer Angel Sanchez. Im Jess Dashing is owned by Darrell Hooper and was bred in Texas by Sarah Huskey. The gelding is by Dash Master Jess and is out of Im Not Hillary, by Executive Menace.

Hot Lady Returns won the third trial and was the fourth fastest qualifier with her time of 18.477. The John Stinebaugh trainee was ridden by Kelsi Purcell. Hot Lady Returns is owned by Vanessa Bartoo and was bred in Oklahoma by Cnn Breeding, by High Rate of Return and out of Hottesticketintown, by Jody O Toole. Hot Lady Returns debuted at Ruidoso before breaking her maiden in Friday’s trial.

Super Fly B was the fifth fastest qualifier and the winner of the second trial in 18.492. Victor Manuel Urieta, Jr. had the call for trainer Alonso Neri and owner Jose Jesus Sandoval. Bielau Oaks bred the EC Jet One colt in Texas, out of the Teller Cartel mare Kar Dash Ability B. This was the filly’s first win; she was fourth in her debut at Louisiana Downs and was second in her trial for Heritage Place Futurity at Remington.

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