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Streaming Video
© Coady Photography
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.
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.