AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials Take Center Stage At Mexico City Racetrack

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By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–MAY 29, 2026–The AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Trials in Mexico City will be held Sunday evening at the Hipódromo de las Américas, where seventeen juveniles will compete in two trial heats for a chance to earn a spot in the top ten. The ten fastest qualifiers will advance to the $30,000-added final on June 21. The evening's racing will begin at 14:30 with the S14,000 Javier Rosique Palavicini Classic. See the related story for details.

The sixth and seventh races on the card will feature two-year-old juveniles competing in 350-yard trials to earn berths in the final of the $30,000-added AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge.

The 5-2 morning-line favorite in the sixth race trial is Rg Queen of Hearts. The filly entered off a qualifying effort in the Prize Classic in late April, where she finished fifth by one and a quarter lengths after struggling to get on top of the ground. The filly looks to capitalize on her consistency, and with added conditioning over the past month, she should be ready to go the extra distance.

The daughter of Favorite Cartel is out of the Corona Cartel mare Talullah Moon. She was bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sea Ranches, LP. Racing for Rancho Las Gaviotas, Rg Queen of Hearts is trained by Alfredo Rabanal Salinas and will be ridden by Mario Alberto López Marmolejo from the rail post as she seeks a qualifying performance.

The seventh race, the second and final trial, features Os Smooth As Silk as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The two-year-old gelding also qualified for the Prize Classic, where he finished third, losing by only a neck. He enters the trials with valuable experience and has earned $7,600 after being purchased for $70,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by Cuadra Alpuyecca.

The son of Apollitical Jess is out of the Favorite Cartel mare Silk and Stilettos. Bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sea Ranches, LP, Os Smooth As Silk is trained by Antonio Garcia Carranza and will break from post eight under jockey Alejandro Gómez López.

Sunday evening promises an exciting showcase of young talent as seventeen juveniles chase their chance to compete in the AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge Final. With only ten spots available, every stride will matter as these promising runners aim to secure their place among Mexico's fastest two-year-olds.

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