Los Alamitos Race Course will host the $30,000-est. John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday night.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–AUGUST 7, 2026–A ticket to the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque will be on the line Saturday night at Los Alamitos Race Course as ten talented two-year-olds clash in the $30,000-est. John Deere California Juvenile Challenge over 350 yards.

Girl power set the tone during the trials, led by Zynda Racing’s homebred Cape Blanco, who turned in the night's fastest qualifying time of 18.083. Guided by Justine Klaiber, the Kiss My Hocks filly surged to a half-length victory to secure her first career win and give trainer Jaime Gomez his 1,460th victory at Los Alamitos, tying him for fifth on the track's all-time wins list. Gomez qualifies three for the final, including third-fastest qualifier Uncle Drizzle Fashizl (:18.197) and Cowboy Crush Bb.

"I've been at Los Alamitos since the late 1970s as a groom," Gomez recalled. "I've had a lot of good times and good horses over the years... it's great to have nice horses like Cape Blanco. She just came to my barn (before the trials). She's been good."

J. Francisco Diaz’s Texas Cowgirl 123 posted the second-fastest time of :18.149 while chasing Cape Blanco in the opening heat. Trained by Lindolfo Diaz, Texas Cowgirl 123 looms as a major threat.

Kidd Ranch's homebred KR Candy Dragon captured the second trial in :18.341 under Martin Arriaga for trainer Juan Aleman. The Jess Good Candy filly overcomes early bumping to win by half a length, anchoring an Aleman duo that also features seventh-fastest Kr Apollitical Run (:18.470). Kidd Ranch has enjoyed some special moments in the AQHA Challenge Championship series. In 2018, KR Hi Five won the Grade 2 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship and the Wild West Futurity at Los Alamitos. KR Hi Five would go on to win the Adequan California Derby Challenge here the following year.

Aleman has dominated the California regionals this year. He saddled the winner of the California Championship and Cox Ranch California Distaff last weekend.

The remainder of the talented field features Flash Frozen 5, Pelaossecretmongoose, Political Comment, and Henosheis Fire.*

 * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.