Bc Minnie Pearl, ridden by Oscar Villa, won her trial heat wire-to-wire and set fastest qualifying time to $30,500 added AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials at Pocatello Downs on Sunday.

© Pocatello Downs

POCATELLO, ID–SEPTEMBER 10, 2023–The first two races on Sunday's card at Pocatello Downs were slated for the $30,500 added AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials. The top three fastest times came from trial #1.

Bc Minnie Pearl, ridden by Oscar Villa, gets the jump out of the gate and leads the field of six from wire-to-wire finishing 3/4-lengths ahead of post-time favorite Drive. 

The daughter of Apollitical Spirit clocked a 90 speed index in :17.827 seconds for the fastest qualifying time in the trials. The 350-yard victory paid $9.80 to win on 8/5 odds and brings her total earnings to $28,864.

Conditioned by Sergio Canales, Bc Minnie Pearl already has one stakes win under her belt. The Utah-bred filly broke her maiden in July after winning the Ron Moosman Utah Bred Futurity. She went on to place second in the Thomas Market Overnight Futurity at Oneida County Fair in August. 

Bred by Ben McKinney, Bc Minnie Pearl is out of Classic Pearl Bc by Class Jump.

Drive, who was favored to win, placed a game second to Bc Minnie Pearl under the guidance of Julian Zavala for the second fastest qualifying time in :17.940 seconds. The daughter of Valiant Hero now has $13,502 in the bank. 

Drive has already lit the board six of seven starts from her juvenile campaign with two wins, three seconds and one third. Owned and trained by Adrian Zavala, the sorrel filly out of Lil Baby Eagle by One Famous Eagle was bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch, LLC.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $30,500 added AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be ran on September 24, 2023.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this article as soon as it is available from the track photographer.