Notoryous Holds Off Racket Ridge To Win $54,137 Adequan AQHA Derby Challenge

Notoryous, a $300,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, dug in late to capture the $54,137 Adequan AQHA Derby Challenge Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs.

Ridden by Juan Pulido, Notoryous completed the 400 yards in :19.694, earning a 99 speed index. The 3-year-old colt held off Racket Ridge by a neck, with Jess A Good Angel another neck back in third.

Notoryous is trained by Samuel Mendoza for owner LA Racing Stables LLC. Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, the gray colt is by champion sire One Famous Eagle and out of the stakes-placed Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Popping. He is a half-brother to All American Derby (G1) winner Instygator ($1,608,801).

The victory improved Notoryous' record to five wins and six seconds from 12 starts. The $24,903 winner's share boosted his career earnings to $123,446.

Notoryous entered the September 15 trials following a victory in the Gillespie County Fair Derby.

Third-fastest qualifier Racket Ridge crossed the wire second under Francisco Ramirez Jr. for owner/breeder Paul Treadwell and trainer Jason Olmstead. The gelding chased Notoryous through mid-stretch and battled gamely to the wire, missing by a neck.

By Apollitical Jess and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Lovepop, Racket Ridge now has a record of 15-3-4-1 with earnings of $73,273. Still in search of his first stakes victory, he was a finalist in the Heritage Place Derby (G2) earlier this season.

Jess A Good Angel and jockey Ruben Castro finished third for owner Angelica Brizuela and trainer Samuel Mendoza. The colt encountered tight quarters at the start before gaining ground late to secure third.

Bred by Cristian Alcala, Jess A Good Angel is by Jess Good Candy and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Sin Tachas Angel. He now has a record of 12-3-1-3 with earnings of $203,034. As a 2-year-old, he finished third in both the Heritage Place Futurity (G1) and Black Gold Colts and Geldings Futurity (G3).

Ab Seis Coronas, Litenin, Jess Down Candy, Atlas Rise, Mary Janes Train and Icy Cartel completed the order of finish. One Painted Sign was scratched.

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