Trident IOT, under jockey Ricardo Ramiez, won the $53,856 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 9, 2025–Keith Nellesen's Trident IOT earned his ticket to the AQHA Racing Challenge after posting a surprising victory in the $53,856 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Sent off at odds of 20-1, Trident IOT broke okay, but picked up speed in a hurry, moving up to challenge for the lead near the midway point of the 350-yard race before pulling away impressively to win by a ½ length in a time of :17.801.

Ridden by Ricardo Ramirez and trained by Kristen Watanabe, Trident IOT was scoring his first win since posting a ¾ length win in his trial to the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity.

The son of multiple stakes sire Kvn Corona out of the One Famous Eagle mare My Famous Lady finished sixth in the Kindergarten final, a race won by his stablemate Beuteeful.

Jockey Ricardo Ramirez and trainer Kristen Watanabe accept the John Deere California Juveniel Challenge stakes trophies. © Amber Mendez

Trident IOT has been in the shadows of Beuteeful for most of the year. The two worked together in a 220-yard morning drill on March 8, which was won by the eventual futurity winning filly in :12.2 vs. :12.4, and in the Kindergarten trials, Beuteeful had a faster time than Trident IOT.

 However, their winning times in the trials were not that far apart, as the filly covered the distance in :15.771 while he won his trial in :15.783. They finished as the second and fourth fastest qualifier, but then of course, Beuteeful won the futurity final.

Yet even on the night that Beuteeful won the Kindergarten, Nellesen still took a moment during the post-race interviews to mention how much he liked Trident IOT. 

The owner's confidence on the Utah-bred gelding was rewarded in the John Deere California Juvenile final, as Trident IOT posted his second win in five starts while earning $24,774 for the win. Bred by McColee Land & Livestock, Trident IOT's  career bankroll now stands at $45,081 with a chance for much more after earning a spot in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge to be held at The Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday, October 18.

Trident IOT is from the family of three-time champion Noconi and the stakes winner Brenda Beautiful. He was purchased for $55,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. He is named after a technology company based in Carlsbad, California.

Spencer Tunnell's Run Dont Walk bumped several times during the race but finished strongly for second place. The gelding by champion Apollitical Blood earned $10,771 for his runner-up effort. He was ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Ramiro Castillo.

Nellesen's Apollitical Jess gelding Octane, who swerved out while racing very wide from post number 10, made a big late run to finish third.

Rr Sweet Memories, Candy Covered Nite, Birdee Pruitt, Error Code, Hockrodd, Kevins Trending and Blow Ur Whistle completed the field.

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