Valentino Pete, under jockey Jorge Torres, winning the In $48,807 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge on Sunday.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–OCTOBER 2, 2022–Even though he was the second fastest qualifier, the public let Valentino Pete get away at  odds of 16-1 Sunday and the 3-year-old son of All American sire Hes Relentless didn't disappoint by winning the $48,807 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge.

Under jockey Jorge Torres Valentino Pete led wire-to-wire while completing his 400 yard task in :19.754 seconds, a 98 speed index with a 3 mph tailwind. The gray gelding racing for owner-breeders Robert and Stacey Martin was second to fastest qualifier Freighttrain King in the September 13th trials. Tammy Kay Johson is is the trainer.

Today the Texas-bred got his second career win and picked up $22,251 to boost his bankroll to $33,517.  The win also scored him a starting spot in the October 22nd Grade 2 $125,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship to contested at the Bank of America Challenge Championship at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The winning connections of Valentino Pete accept the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge stakes trophy on Sunday at Will Rogers Downs. © Coady Photography

A finalist in last year's John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge, Valentino Pete is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Mystical Eye.

Cristian Leonardo Alcala's owned-and-trained Locedinthezone earned $9,761 for his second-place effort. Jockey Jesus Salazar rode the colt by leading sire Apollitical Jess. Kirk Goodfellow bred the 3-year-old in Texas from the Shazoom mare Big Bizooms. He has earned $26,252.

Docs Dusty Cartel finished half-a-length back to  earn $4,881 for third. Stacy Capps saddled the Oklahoma homebred son of multiple stakes sire Coronado Cartel for owner-breeder Dusty Rose Ranch LLC. 

The winner of last year's Oklahoma Horsemen's Association Mystery Futurity(RG2) and an earner of $245,984 was ridden by jockey Rolando Raudales. Docs Dusty Cartel is out of Docs Dusty Dale by Okey Dokey Dale.

Valentino Pete returned $33 to win, $14 to place and $7.80 to show. Locedinthezome paid $21,40 to place and $16.80 to show while Docs Dusty Cartel returned $7.20 to show.

Political Fire, Relentless I Am, Jesst For Speed, Awesome View, Viva Le Zoom, Freighttrain King and Billions completed the field.

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For more information about the upcoming Will Rogers Downs meet visit the track website.