Challenge


Valiant Tiberias Dominates Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3)
Valiant Tiberias, under jockey James Flores, easily wins the $154,750 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3)Saturday night at Albuquerque Downs.

© Coady Photography
Valiant Tiberias Dominates Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3)

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 26, 2019—Valiant Tiberias dominated his competition in Saturday’s $154,750 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) for 3-year-olds at Albuquerque Downs.

Prepped by Ricardo Armandariz for owners Sergio Holguin, Cliften Nielsen, and Felix Rodriguez, Valiant Tiberias defeated runner-up Charlies Fury by a clear 1-½ lengths while covering 400 yards in :19.387. James Flores rode the Valiant Hero gelding.

Valiant Tiberias was sent to post as the even-money favorite in the field of 10. The gelding was bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches LLC, from the Feature Mr Jess mare American Feature, and he was shortening in distance off Quarter Horse racing’s richest race for 3-year-olds, the 440-yard, $1,550,900 All American Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on September 1 when he finished third in the All American Derby bust was DQ'd and placed eighth for interference.

AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber presents the winning connections of Valiant Tiberias the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) stakes trophy at Albuquerque Downs Saturday night. © Coady Photography
Valiant Tiberias has won five of 10 starts, including five of seven this season, and the $71,185 winner’s share of the purse from his second stakes victory pushed his earnings to $200,244, of which $197,614 has been banked this season.

Runner-up Charlies Fury earned $30,950 for owner-breeders Tom and Kathleen McNally. Jordan Baumann saddled the Oklahoma-bred son of Furyofthewind out of Jess Charlena by Take Off Jess. Agustin Silva had the riding call aboard the stakes winning earner of $194,537.

Third-place finisher Getit Hot, a California bred daughter of Walk Thru Fire, races for owner Charles Stojan and trainer William Leech. Ricardo Moreno rode the brown filly out of Getit Together by Separatist. Bred by Martha F. Wells, Getit Hot earned $15,475 to increase her bankroll to $54,851.

Kr Hi Five, Mansory, Jess Wagon P, Jesstifiably Jess, Apollitical Mogul, Kis My Bit, and Rob That Wagon completed the order of finish.

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Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino is located in the heart of Albuquerque at Expo New Mexico, the home of the New Mexico State Fair, and general admission and parking are always free (via the casino entrance on Louisiana and Central). For more information, visit abqdowns.com and click on the "Racing" link at the top of the homepage.