Los Alamitos Race Course will host two trials for the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday's race card.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–JULY 16, 2026–Fourteen talented juveniles will flash their speed over 350 yards this Saturday night at Los Alamitos in the trials for the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge contested in races seven and eight.

The ten fastest qualifiers will advance to the final on August 8, with the ultimate winner punching a ticket to the John Deere Juvenile final at The Downs at Albuquerque in October.

Trainer Diego Cervantes holds a strong hand with four runners entered across the two divisions. In the opening trial, he sends out outside-drawn Miss Sassy Dynasty and Flash Frozen 5. In the second heat, he saddles inside threats Come And Get It and Political Comment, the latter looking like his prime contender after a sharp runner-up debut on June 28.

Other key players in the first trial include J. Francisco Diaz’s Texas Cowgirl 123, a solid third in her Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity trial, and Zynda Racing's Cape Blanco, a narrow runner-up earlier this year at Remington Park.

The second trial features the Antonio Canchola and Juan Carlos Chavez-owned Queenship, who chased home eventual stakes winner My Favorite Paris in her Kindergarten trial. She will clash with Francos Ranch's Pelaossecretmongoose, who seeks a breakthrough win after consecutive runner-up finishes.

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