John Deere Juvenile(G2) and Adequan Derby(G3) finals Recap (Video)

StallioneSearch.com wraps up its webcast coverage of the 2026 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship weekend with a combined feature on the $154,750 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) and the $178,875 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3), held Saturday night at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Denhawken delivered an impressive performance Saturday night at The Downs at Albuquerque, capturing the Grade 2, $154,750 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship with a one-length victory over a competitive field of ten two-year-old Quarter Horses.

Ridden by Bryan Candanosa, the gelding broke sharply from post five and quickly established a half-length advantage. Denhawken maintained his lead throughout the 350-yard contest before pulling away in the final strides to secure the victory in :17.244 over a fast track, earning a 96 speed index. Sent off at odds of 9-1, he returned $21.20 to win.

Margarets Cowboy added another major victory to his growing stakes résumé Saturday night, cruising to a one-length victory in the $178,875 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

With jockey Miguel Josue Ramirez aboard, the 3-year-old son of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 broke sharply from post four, established an early advantage, and maintained control throughout the 400-yard championship.

Coverage of the 2026 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship weekend is co-sponsored by the stallion roster at Cox Stallion Station in Kaplan, Louisiana, and Electrifying Cowboy, a multiple graded stakes-winning son of Flying Cowboy 123, who will stand at Rancho El Dorado in Anthony, New Mexico, for the 2027 season.