Apollitical Bet headlines the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 7,2024–Clayton and Kaye Russell’s Apollitical Bet entered the trials to the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge three weeks ago, and he lived up to them and more. The son of Apollitical Blood, out of the stakes place mare Favorite Bet, covered the distance in 17.703, which was far and away the fastest time of the night.

Apollitical Bet now enters the John Deere California final as the favorite to punch a ticket to the John Deere Juvenile Challenge final held in October at The Downs at Albuquerque. The California homebred has been under the radar this year even though he has posted three solid races, including outstanding back-to-back winning efforts.

After running third in his racing debut, Apollitical Bet impressed with a hard-fought nose victory in his trial to the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity. Then came his John Deere California Juvenile race, where he posted a decisive win.

Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Apollitical Bet broke cleanly and led by a neck in the early part of the race. He had a half-length lead by the midway point and, from there, extended his lead to a full length at the wire. His winning time was 16/100ths of a second faster than the next fastest qualifier.

J Lazy Six Racing’s Heartlande was second to Apollitical Bet in the trials and comes in as the second fastest qualifier in a time of 17.868. Purchased for $50,000 at the Heritage Place Sale, the Texas-bred filly of Favorite Cartel has run twice at Los Alamitos this year and has posted two solid runner-up efforts. Bred by Bobby Cox, Heartlande is the daughter of the $71,000 earner and graded stakes placed Jess A Sweetie.

Marla K Robinson Family Trust’s A Political Wave and LG Racing LLC’s Born In The Blood also scored wins in their respective trials and clear contenders to win the final. Trained by Heath Taylor, the Apollitical Jess filly A Political Wave was a near gate-to-wire winner by a head, as she posted her second win in three starts.

Taylor also saddled Born In The Blood to his trial win, as he also improved to a pair of wins from three starts. Also sired by Apollitical Blood, the gelding won his trial by an impressive ¾ lengths. The field will also feature Bottle It Up, Safari, Toxic Details, AJ Flawless, Gold N Miss, and Apollitical Duchess.