Challenge


Comal Blue Makes Sophomore Debut in Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge Trials
Black Gold Futurity Championship winner Comal Blue winner will make his 2014 debut in Sunday’s Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge trials at Will Rogers Downs.

© Coady Photography
Comal Blue Makes Sophomore Debut in Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge Trials

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 12, 2014—Comal Blue, a homebred Ivory James gelding racing for Steve Kirks, will make his 3-year-old debut in Sunday’s Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge trials at Will Rogers Downs.

Trained by Ty Blackwell, Comal Blue is coming off of a 2-year-old campaign in which he won the 350-yard, $95,000 Black Gold 350 Futurity (R) and ran second, a half of a length behind winner Rocketair, in the 400-yard, $385,000 Black Gold Futurity Championship (RG3).

Comal Blue drew post 3 in the second of two 400-yard trials. The gelding’s eight opponents in the second heat include Pete Scarmardo’s Raising Kain, a homebred Down N Dash gelding who won last year’s 350-yard, $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos.

Reliance Ranches’ VH Won, a gelded son of Valiant Hero and an $85,000 purchase at the 2012 Ruidoso Select Yearlnig Sale, drew post 8 in the first heat. Traied by Eddie Willis, the gelding has banked $57,972 from 14 outs, and he was a finalist in two graded derbies during the Remington Park spring meet.

A total of 17 3-year-olds have been entered in the trials. The 10 fastest qualifiers will face off in the $32,500-added Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge final on September 28.

All Will Rogers Downs races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.