Rg A Candy Girl won the $46,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge by a nose on Sunday at Hipodromo de las Americas, giving Rancho Las Gaviotas its second Challenge victory of the evening.

© Miguel Angel Espinoza / Hipodromo de Las Américas

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO–JUNE 21, 2026–Rancho Las Gaviotas completed a rare Challenge double Sunday night at the Hipodromo de las Americas when Rg A Candy Girl surged late to win the $46,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge just one race after stablemate Phillybuster captured the Adequan Derby Challenge.

Fresh off celebrating Phillybuster's victory in the previous race, the connections returned to the winner's circle when Rg A Candy Girl prevailed by a nose in a photo finish at 350 yards. The filly broke from the gate in fourth before advancing steadily and taking command near the three-quarter mark. She stopped the timer in 17.80 seconds and earned an 89 speed index.

The winning connections of Rg A Candy Girl accept the John Deere Juvenile Challenge trophy at the Hipodromo De Las Americas on Sunday. © Luis Prieto Zamudio

Owned by Rancho Las Gaviotas, Rg A Candy Girl was trained by Alfredo Rabanal. Ridden by Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo, the daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon entered the race as the second-fastest qualifier from the May 31 trials and maintained her strong performance throughout the competition.

Bred in the United States by PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC out of Send Tres Sies Candy by Tres Seis, she sold for $36,000 in the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Rg A Candy Girl has finished in the top three in all five career starts, compiling a record of two wins, one second, and two thirds while boosting her earnings to more than $30,000. Earlier this season, she placed third in The Prize Classic.

Qs Smooth As Silk finished second and earned the first black-type placing of his career. Racing for Cuadra Alpuyeca, he is trained by Antonio Garcia and ridden by Alejandro Gomez Lopez.

The son of Apollitical Jess was bred in the United States by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP out of Silk And Stilettos by Favorite Cartel and sold for $70,000 in the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Qs Smooth As Silk now sports a record of one win and two seconds from four starts with earnings of approximately $13,000.

Third-place finisher Rg Queen Of Hearts continues to show promise despite still seeking her first career victory. The filly also races for Rancho Las Gaviotas and was bred in the United States by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches LP. She was a $40,000 graduate of the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Trained by Alfredo Rabanal and ridden by Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo, the daughter of Favorite Cartel is out of Tallulah Moon by Corona Cartel. She previously finished fourth in The Prize Classic and has earned more than $9,100 from four starts.

Lucy Kate, Hard To Cowboy, Ccb Top, Tricias Soul Train, Steele N Honey, and Kiki Rb completed the order of finish.

With the victory, Rg A Candy Girl earned an automatic berth to the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship, which will be contested October 17 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The triumph also secured a memorable accomplishment for Rancho Las Gaviotas. Sweeping both the Adequan Derby Challenge and John Deere Juvenile Challenge on the same program is an uncommon feat and highlighted a dominant evening for one of Mexico's leading racing operations.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.