AUBURN, WA—AUGUST 1, 2021—Coming off a close third-place effort in the $90,000 Firecracker Futurity on July 4th at Grants Pass Downs, Apolinaria Prize defeated Empowered To Prosper by a neck to set the fastest qualifying time for the John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge on Sunday at Emerald Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Auburn, Washington racetrack on Sunday, August 22nd to vie for the winner's share of a $30,000-added purse as well try to garner a spot in the $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G3) to be contested October 23rd on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at The Downs in Albuquerque.

Ridden by jockey Cesar Moreno, Apolinaria Prize bumped at the start but took the lead and held on for the win while completing the 350 yards in :18,311 seconds, equaling a 86 speed index into a 3 mph crosswind. It was the second win in four starts for the California-bred earner of $14,800.

Jose Rosales Gomez conditions the Fast Prize Cartel filly for owner Juan Manuel Marquez. EG High Desert Farms LLC bred the bay filly from the Grade 3 stakes winner SS Calendar Girl by Finding Nemo.

Empowered To Prosper, a $24,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, held on to the second fastest time of :18.368 seconds, an 85 speed index. Trainer Mark Hanson saddled the Kiss My Hocks gelding for owner RTM Stables LLC. Third in the $70,834 Beehive Futurity in May, the sorrel gelding won his Bitterroot Futurity trials in his last start July 16th at Pocatello Downs.

Richard and Janelle Simon bred Empower To Prosper in Louisiana from the Mr Jess Perry mare Shakeumupperry. Nakia Ramirez had the riding call aboard the $10,243 earner.

Hanson also saddled 4th fastest qualifier Eagle Assault.

Ruben Magallanes' Oregon homebred Leaving Angelz was a 1-˝ length winner in the second trial to get the third fastest time of :18.395 seconds, an 84 speed index into a 3 mph crosswind. Trained by Hector Magallanes, the son of multiple stakes sire Coronas Leaving You entered the trials off a win in the $15,500 Firecracker Juvenile consolation at Grants Pass July 4th.

Out of the FDD Dynasty mare Angel Eyez, Leaving Angelz has won three of four starts this year and earned $12,800.

For a complete list of John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.