Fastest qualifier Hockrodd will head the $50,000 (est.) John Deere Juvenile California Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 7, 2025–Longtime owner James Sills will look to score another stakes victory at Los Alamitos when he is represented by fastest qualifier Hockrodd in the $50,000 (est.) John Deere Juvenile California Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The winner will advance to the AQHA Challenge Championships Night at The Downs in Albuquerque on Saturday, October 19.

For Sills, a victory in this race would be just his latest of memorable wins at the Orange County oval, which include the 2025 Grade 1 Lo Alamitos Oaks with Shaken Goin On and the 2024 Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity with Cedar Hill.

Sills owns Shaken Goin On and Cedar Hill in partnership with Abel Flores but is the sole proprietor of Hockrodd, a colt by Kiss My Hocks he purchased for $120,000 at the Heritage Place Sale last September.

Bred in Oklahoma by Shane or Avery Bradney, Hockrodd has been a great find for Sills, as he’s already won twice while finishing in the money in all four of his career starts.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Albert Valles, Hockrodd broke sharply from post number one and improved from there, crossing the wire a length ahead of the rest while covering the distance in :17.990, only 1/1000ths of a second faster than Keith Nellesen’s Hi Octane, who won the other trial in :17.991.

"He broke real straight, but past 50 yards, he was lugging out, and the more I pulled on him, the more he was lugging out," Nicasio said. "I started thinking that hopefully no one would be close to him, otherwise I would be in trouble. Fortunately, he had a good lead. He did it very easily and in the end he was perfect. I think he had plenty left at the end."

Hockrodd will look to give Albert Valles his first stakes win as a trainer. Valles worked as the assistant trainer of Eddie Willis before moving up to head the barn at Los Alamitos.

Keith Nellesen will be strongly represented in this final with Hi Octane and Trident IOT. To be ridden by jockey Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo from the outside post number 10, Hi Octane arrives with a two-race win streak and top-three efforts in all four outings.

Bred in Utah by Lance and Tammy Finlinson, Hi Octane is a $60,000 purchase at last year's Ruidoso Yearling Sale. 

Bred by McColee Land & Livestock, Trident IOT ran in the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on May 11 before running second to Hockrodd in their trial. Ricardo Ramirez will get the call from post number two.

David Hinkins will be presented by two runners in the final in Blow Your Whistle and Kevins Trending, while Bobby and Catherine Simmons will also have two in the final in Error Code and Birdee Pruitt. Candy Covered Nite, RR Sweet Memories and Run Dont Walk will complete the field.

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For more information, please get in touch with larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.