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Rylees Bud Surprises In Grade 2 Bank of America New Mexico Challenge
Rylees Bud, under jockey Adrian Ramos, gets his first career stakes win in the $100,000 Bank of America New Mexico Challenge(G2) at Sunland Park Saturday afternoon.

© Coady Photography
Rylees Bud Surprises In Grade 2 Bank of America New Mexico Challenge

SUNLAND PARK, NM—APRIL 16, 2016—Making just his third official start 5-year-old Rylees Bud (12-1) rolled to a three-quarter length win over Streakin Zoomer in the $100,000 Bank of America New Mexico Challenge(G2) at Sunland Park Saturday afternoon. Jess Kid Rick finished half-a-length back in the show position.

Rylees Bud, a brother to three-time AQHA Racing Champion Rylees Boy, completed the 440-yard task in :21.189 seconds to earn a 95-speed index with a 10 mph tailwind. Adrian Ramos had the riding assignment for trainer Juan Gonzalez.

Bella Valenzuela owns the son of Heza Motor Scooter from the Rocky Jones mare Pipistrelle. In two previous starts Rylees Bud finished third in Belle Helene's Rainbow Futurity trial at Ruidoso Downs in 2013 and fourth in a maiden trial at Turf Paradise in 2014. Rylees Bud's record stands at (3) 1-0-1 and the $48,000 winner's purse today boosted his total to $48,670.

The winning connections of Rylees Bud accept the Bank of America New Mexico Challenge Championship stakes trophy Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino. © Coady Photography
Today's win earned the lightly raced gelding a starting spot in the Grade 1 $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos Race Course on Saturday October 29.

His brother, Rylees Boy, won the 2011 and 2012 Bank of America New Mexico Challenge Championships. In 2012 Rylees Boy parlayed his win in the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship into a starting spot in the Grade 1 $750,000 Champion of Champions which he also won. Rylees Boy won 22 races and earned more that $1.5 million.

Also making his first start of the year, stakes winner Streakin Zoomer picked up $20,500 for his second place effort. Martin Orona, Sr. conditions the Shazoom 7-year-old for owner Alejandro Arzabala, Jr. Salvador Martinez was aboard the J.E. III, D.C. and C.T. Jumonville Louisiana-bred. Out of the Streakin La Jolla mare A Streakin Mate, Streakin Zoomer has won eight races and earned $104,977.

Jess Kid Rock races for owner Jesus Sosa and trainer Isidro Rodriguez. Jose Ortiz was aboard the Rock Solid Jess 3-year-old from the Chicks Beduino mare A Classic Serenade. Tammy Johnson and Jack Manning is the breeder. Jess Kid Rock earned $10,000 for the effort.

Posttime favorite Me Eye Opener Too finished fourth followed by Southern Temptation, Don Quixote, Captain Cheve and Vodka Rocks.