Emerald Downs will host the eere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge final on August 15.

© Bret Anderson

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

AUBURN, WA—JULY 26, 2026—Tomatito stamped himself as the horse to beat for the $30,000-added John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge final after posting the fastest qualifying time of 17.947 while leading the top three qualifiers from Sunday's trio of 350-yard trials at Emerald Downs.

The Challenge-enrolled 2-year-olds will return for the August 15 final.

A gelded son of multiple stakes sire One Famous Man out of Sister Showtime, by Five Bar Cartel, Tomatito dueled for the early advantage before proving best to score by one-half length over Mysterious Hero in the third and final trial.

Under Jose Garcia-Segura, the Oregon-bred earned a speed index of 89 while securing the fastest qualifying mark of the afternoon. Bred by Brazos and Sarah Wilfong, Tomatito races for owner Leobardo Bernal and is trained by Juan Manuel Marquez. Tomatito broke his maiden at Grants Pass July 4 and has won two of three starts.

Mysterious Hero earned the second-fastest qualifying time after finishing a game second to Tomatito in the final trial. The gelded son of Tarzanito out of Mysterious Night, by Valiant Hero, chased the winner throughout before finishing a half-length behind in 18.062.

Owned by Luis A. Gonzalez, trained by Jose A. Rosales Gomez, and ridden by Cesar T. Moreno, the Texas-bred was bred by J/R Robicheaux/Spanish Moss Quarter Horses. Winner of the Beehive Futurity earlier this year, Mysterious Hero was a $10,000 purchase at the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. He has banked $44,565 in five starts this season.

The final qualifying berth among the top three went to Survivor T, who completed the sweep of the third trial's trifecta while posting the third-fastest clocking of 18.380. The gelding by Political Cowboy out of Catrina Royal Jet, by Jet Black Patriot, finished third in his trial after a steady effort.

Bred in Oregon by Jose Luis Torres Arenas, Survivor T races for Hernan Torres, is conditioned by Mario Portillo, and was ridden by David A. Martin. He was third in the Grants Pass Firecracker Futurity Consolation and fourth in the Beehive, earning $10,203.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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