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Ruidoso Downs To Host Special Regional Challenge Stakes On Friday and Saturday Cards
Captain Mazurk, who set a 440 yard track record in his last start, will start in the Regional Challenge Stakes on Saturday at Ruidoso Downs.

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Ruidoso Downs To Host Special Regional Challenge Stakes On Friday and Saturday Cards

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JULY 5, 2020—Ruidoso Downs will host two special Challenge stakes races on Friday and Saturday — carded as Race 10 each day.

Regional Juvenile Challenge Stakes

Friday's $15,000 Regional Juvenile Challenge Stakes is a 350 yard event giving preference to finalists of the Rillito Park Regional Challenge Juvenile, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The highest placing horse that was eligible to run in the John Deere Rillito Park Juveile Challenge final on March 22, that also runs in this race, will gain a berth to the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) to be run during the Bank of America Challenge Championships at the Downs at Albuquerque this fall. Remaining Rillito Juvenile Challenge finalists will have preference to the Challenge Championship races.

Fastest qualifier Wagon Of Speed has entered back for owner Jose Mendoza and trainer Eloy Navarro. The son of multiple stakes sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon will be ridden by jockey Alan Hernandez from post 7.

In his debut start, the Rillito Juvenile trials on March 1st, Wagon Of Speed finished a neck off Blackwater Bengal who was disqualified for interference, giving the bay colt the fastest qualifier title and the win.

The $30,000 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale graduate has had one start over the Ruidoso racing surface, finishing eighth in a Rainbow Futurity trial July 4th. Reliance Ranches LLC bred the 2-year-old from the champion and champion producing Duel Fuel mare Significant Speed.

Avenger B will start off the inside rail for owner Juan Clark. Trainer Guadalupe Munoz, Jr. will saddle the son of leading second-crop sire Apollitical Blood from the Separatist mare Sierra Madre B.

In his only start Avenger B won his trial for the Rillito Juvenile to get the second fastest qualifying time. Bielau Oaks bred the $8,000 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale graduate. Elias Gutierrez will ride.

The aforementioned Blackwater Bengal enters the Reginal Juvenile Challenge Stakes off an off-the-board performance in the Eye On Corona Virus Futurity June 6 at Laurel Brown Racetrack. Still a maiden in three starts the son of Hez Our Secret has qualified for stakes in both his previous trial outings.

Ferrari Racing Stables purchased the Oklahoma bred out of Sting Scorpion Sting, by Strawfly Special, for $11,000 at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale. Mike Vaughn is the breeder. Trainer Ricardo Saldana has named Emilio Tapia to ride Blackwater Bengal from post 5.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Avenger B (Elias Gutierrez)
  2. Saint Icon (Adrian Ramos)
  3. Zooming For Kappie (Mauro Salcedo)
  4. Mister Hocks (Daniel Amaya)
  5. Blackwater Bengal (Emilio Tapia)
  6. Jess The Lady (Paul Hieto)
  7. Wagon Of Speed (Alan Hernandez)
  8. Charlies Fast Man (Jaime Leos)
  9. Run Away And Hide (Felipe Garcia-Luna)
  10. Eye On Gabino (Jimmy Brooks)
  • AE-Oldtimehero (Emilio Tapa)
  • AE-Truly Valiant (Hector Aldrete)

    Regional Challenge Stakes

    Friday's $15,000 Regional Challenge Stakes is a 440 yard event giving preference to finalists of the Bank of America Rillito Park Regional Challenge Championship, which was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

    The highest placing horse that was eligible to run in the Bank of America Rillito Park Regional Challenge final, that also runs in this race, will gain a berth to the Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) to be run during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at the Downs at Albuquerque this fall. Remaining Rillito Challenge finalists will have preference to the Challenge Championship races.

    Also trained by Valenzuela, the 4-year-old son of Grade 1 sire Captain Courage will start from post 7 under jockey Martin Osuna. Bred in California by Tyler Ranch LLC, from the Tr Dasher mare Napa Valley Girl, Captain Mazurk has compiled a (13) 2-5-2 record and earned $15,059. He has not started since the February 29th trial race.

    Second fastest qualifier Pirate Coves Hero will start from post 6 for owner Julio Francisco Villar Torres. Also an impressive 1-½ length winner in the February 29th trials, the son of Valiant Hero was sixth in his only other start, a 400 yard event at Los Alamitos Race Course on June 14.

    Jesus Olivas will saddle the 6-year-old Oklahoma bred out of American Feature by Feature Mr Jess. Bred by Reliance Ranches LLC, the multiple stakes winner has compiled a (20) 8-2-1 record and earned $102,681.

    The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

    1. Pirteville Cartel (Luis Gutierrez, Jr)
    2. Senor Frogs (Raul Valenzuela)
    3. Flying Eagle 07 (Sergio Becerra, Jr)
    4. Miss First N Wild (L S Martinez)
    5. Shockinglyfamous (Jimmy Brooks)
    6. Pirate Coves Hero (Albert Medrano)
    7. Captain Mazurk (Martin Osuna)
    8. Valant Tort (Paul Nieto)
    9. Thisizit (Ricky Ramirez)
    10. Our Secret Legacy (Jaime Leos)
  • AE-Siximoons (Adrian Ramos)
  • AE-BV Last Kiss (Noe Garcia, Jr.)

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