Challenge


Challenge Stakes Doubleheader Set for Thursday at Sam Houston Race Park
Stakes winner Jes An Angel heads a field of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Thursday's 350-yard, $130,713 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Coady Photography
Challenge Stakes Doubleheader Set for Thursday at Sam Houston Race Park

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

HOUSTON, TX–JUNE 13, 2022–
Lance R. Moore's Jes An Angel, a stakes-winning daughter of the Shazoom stallion Jess Zoomin, heads a field of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Thursday's 350-yard, $130,713 John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) at Sam Houston Race Park.

A $10,000 purchase at last year's Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City, Jes An Angel has earned $94,306 from five races this season, and her four wins include a three-quarter length victory in the May 21, $148,000 Old South Futurity at Delta Downs. The filly drew post 9 and will be ridden by Camilo Castillo for trainer Bobby Joe Nixon.

Leavinematthebar, a homebred Power Jam (TB) gelding and the fastest qualifier, broke his maiden with a neck victory in the fifth of six trials on May 26. Brian Stroud trains Leavinematthebar for owners James Hrabovsky and Leann Nalls.

Leavinematthebar drew post 8 and will be ridden by Claudio Aguilar.

The winner of this race will earn a berth in this year's John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Also on Thursday, fastest qualifier Hes Jess Dealin drew post 10 for the 400-yard, $91,163 Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge for 3-year-olds.

A homebred son of the Game Patriot stallion Dealagame racing for Pete Scarmardo, Hes Jess Dealin is coming off of a 1 1/4-length victory in the second of two trials on May 26. John Stinebaugh trains the sorrel gelding, who has won three of eight starts and has banked $36,302 while racing exclusively in Texas.

Francisco Calderon will ride Hes Jess Dealin on Thursday.

The winner of this race will earn a berth in this year's Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

All Sam Houston Race Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.