Apollitical Bet, under jockey Armando Cervantes, won the $66,291 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 10, 2024–Racing in memory of the late Clayton Russell, Apollitical Bet scored his third straight victory on the way to taking the running of the $66,291 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

A longtime owner and breeder, Russell passed away on April 29, just two days after Apollitical Bet made his racing debut at Los Alamitos with a third-place finish in a maiden event.

Bred by Clayton and his wife, Kaye Russell, Apollitical Bet has improved with every single start, winning his trial to the Ed Burke Million Futurity in his second career outing before posting the fastest qualifying to the John Deere California Juvenile in his trial on July 20.

He was just as good in the final, as he broke nicely from post number two, took the lead at the midway point and cruised home to a ½ length victory with Armando Cervantes up for trainer Monty Arrossa.

Winning owner Kaye Russell, trainer Monty Arrossa, and jockey Armanda Cervantes are joined in the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge winners circle Saturday night. © Amber Mendez

Levings Racing’s Bottle It Up finished second with J Lazy Six Racing’s Heartlande finishing third.

Apollitical Bet was welcomed back to the winner’s circle by Kaye and her family and friends, including Hobie Peterson, who wore a custom-made T-shirt that read "Apollitical Bet + Clayton = $."

Apollitical Bet earned $30,494 for his win in the John Deere California Juvenile to take his career earnings to $38,157. A winning for the third time in four starts, Apollitical Bet covered the 350-yard distance in :17.678.

"This is a super nice horse," Arrossa said. "I’ve been friends with the Russells nearly my entire life. I couldn’t be prouder than to win this race for them. Apollitical Bet is a nice horse. He showed he had a lot of class right from the get-go and he’s real business minded. He likes to train. We put a little weight on him. He’s progressed well with each race. He’s come out of each race well. Armando has done a super job with him. I give a lot of credit to his groom, Ignacio Montes. He’s done a fantastic job and dotes on him all the time. I couldn’t be happier than to win this race for Kaye, (and their children) Mike and LeAnn and in memory of Clayton."

Hobie Peterson wearing a custom-made t-shirt that read "Apollitical Bet + Clayton = $.". © Amber Mendez

Clayton Russell grew up on the family’s dairy farm in Emmett, Idaho. He married his high school sweetheart, Kaye Gunter, on February 16, 1973, and the Russells made their home in Emmett for the next 51 years.

Beginning in 1978, the Russells operated Gem Pump Company, while also continuing their love of horses. Clayton was a member of the board of the Idaho Quarter Horse Racing Division and was a Director for the American Quarter Horse Association for two decades.

In the winner’s circle at Los Alamitos, Kaye held the John Deere California Juvenile trophy as tight as she could with her thoughts and her heart overflowing with loving memories of her late husband.

"We’ve been breeding horses for a long time and this one, this one Clayton was really proud of him," Kaye said. "He’s a special horse."

The victory earns Apollitical Bet a berth to the John Deere Juvenile Challenge to be held at The Downs at Albuquerque in October.

"We’re going," Arrossa said.

Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala and trained by Arrossa, Bottle It Up earned $13,258 for his runner-up effort. The homebred gelding by Tempting Dash entered this race after running third to Apollitical Bet in the trials.

Bred by Bobby Cox, Heartlande earned $6,630 for running third. Henry Reynoso Lopez piloted the Favorite Cartel filly for trainer Heath Taylor.

The top three were followed by Safari, Toxic Details, Born In The Blood, Apollitical Duchess, Gold N Miss, Political Wave and AJ Flawless.

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