Challenge


One Sweet Merlot Gets Up in Adequan Retama Derby Challenge
One Sweet Merlot, under jockey Noe Villatoro, winning the $57,960 Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Saturday night at Retama Park.

© Coady Photography
One Sweet Merlot Gets Up in Adequan Retama Derby Challenge

SELMA, TX—AUGUST 12, 2017—David Jones and Mark Cowan's One Sweet Merlot flew late under jockey Noe Villatoro to defeat Eagle Cry by a neck in the $57,960 Adequan Retama Derby Challenge Saturday night at Retama Park. Trashy Tres finished a head back in a blanket finish to take third.

Saddled by trainer Trey Ellis, One Sweet Merlot completed the 400 yards in :19.973 seconds, a 96-speed index into a 17-mph headwind. The son of leading third crop sire One Sweet Jess entered the final off a second-place effort to fastest qualifier Jess Kicked A Gear in the July 28th trials.

The winning connections of One Sweet Merlot accept the Adequan Retama Derby Challenge stakes trophy Saturday night. © Coady Photography
Bred in Oklahoma by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, from the Heza Fast Dash mare Onemoreglassofwine, One Sweet Merlot has compiled a (8) 4-1-1 record.

Winner of last year's John Deere Retama Juvenile, and third in the Grade 3 Sam Houston Derby three races back, the sorrel gelding used the $26,662 Adequan winners' purse to boost his career total to $90,736.

Tonight's victory also secures One Sweet Merlot a starting spot in the $180,000 Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) during the Bank of America Challenge Championships at Prairie Meadows October 14.

Eagle Cry, a son of leading sire One Famous Eagle, picked up $11,592 for his second-place effort. Rolando Almanza conditions the sorrel gelding for owners Irma and Giovanni Vargas. Jim Streelman and Bill Dale bred the stakes-placed colt in Missouri from the Check Him Out mare Checknbac. Jesse Lee Levario had the riding assignment.

Trainer Leon Bard saddled third-place finisher Trashy Tres for owner/breeder Jerry Windham. The Tres Seis filly it out of the royally bred Mr Jess Perry mare Jess An Illusion. Ridden by Juan Vazquez, the brown filly earned $5,796 for her effort.

Apollitical Girl, Deala Quick Game, Jayronimo, Jess Kicked A Gear, Walk Off, Queen Dinasty and Desdemona Rambler completed the field.