Challenge


Wii B Tops John Deere Juvenile Trials at Retama Park
Wii B, under jockey Eddie Sanchez, setting the fastest qualifying time for the $30,000-added John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge Saturday at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography
Wii B Tops John Deere Juvenile Trials at Retama Park

SELMA, TX—JULY 28, 2018—Arturo Ibarra’s Wii B ($15.80) scored his second win of the meet setting the fastest qualifying time in the fourth trial of six trails contested Saturday night for the $30,000-added John Deere Retama Juvenile Challenge.

The son of Mighty B Valiant out of the FDD Dynasty mare Devil Wears Prada B was bred in Texas by Bielau Oaks. Trained by Epilido Luna, Jr., Wii B was ridden to victory by Eddie Sanchez, driving to the wire in :17.675 seconds, a 99 speed index.

The $7,500 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate made his debut on April 5 in trials for the Sam Houston Futurity and will enter the final with a record of two wins and a second from four starts.

Also a homebred for Bielau Oaks, Wii B's dam Devil Wears Prada B finished third in the Grade 3 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge in her second career start.

Im Sporting Rock ($7.80), a son of Corona Cartel, bred by Robert or Karen Nunnally, won the second trial in :17.717 under Manuel Gutierrez. It was the third start for the bay colt owned by Jose Fabian Hernandez, and his first win. Ismael Solis-Guevera is his conditioner. The bay colt is out the Stoli mare Painted Silk.

The same connections scored in the final trial with FM Im A Zatanaz Too ($2.10), who won easily in :17.779. This was the fourth career win for the Utah-bred son of Tempting Dash out of the Mister Jess Perry mare Dashingfordestiny. His biggest score came on April 28 with a neck victory in the 330-yard, $441,000 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) at Sam Houston Race Park.

The final will take place on Saturday, August 18 with the winner advancing to $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) on November 17 at Los Alamitos.

CLICK HERE for the complete list of John Deere Retama Juvenile finalists, their times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys.