Nowhere Too Run, under jockey Jaime Lopez, defeats Da Bros Cartel in the $43,100 John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge Sunday at Emerald Downs.

© Palmer Photography / Emerald Downs

AUBURN, WA–AUGUST 20, 2023–In a tight finish in the first race of the day at Emerald Downs, Nowhere Too Run defeated Da Bros Cartel by a neck to take the $43,100 John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge.

Nowhere Too Run ($9.00), with jockey Jaime Lopez aboard, kept to task from the inside post. The final time for the 350-yard race was :18.400 with an 84 speed index.

This was the third win in five starts for the gelding, who added $20,258 to his lifetime earnings of $29,564. He began his career with a maiden-breaking win in a trial for the Pocatello Downs Spring Futurity, and recently won the consolation for the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass.

Benito Curiel trains for owner Onofre Garcia. Denis Valdez bred the gelding in Washington, by Freakier and out of A Cataclysmic Affair, by A Classic Dash.

Da Bros Cartel, the heavy post-time favorite, finished second under jockey Guillermo Suarez. The Carters Cartel gelding is trained by Jose Gomez for owner Edwin Rosales.

In five career starts, Da Bros Cartel has never finished worse than second. He was the runner-up in the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass as well as the Pocatello Downs Spring Futurity.

Hayden Brothers Ranch bred Da Bros Cartel in Oregon, out of the Stoli mare Glitteratti; Glitteratti is out of Runaway Wave.

Peregrino Af and Martin Osuna finished in third place for trainer Jose Gomez. The Separatist colt is a Washington homebred for Arturo Fuentes-Lopez, out of the stakes placed mare Misterious Lady, by Mr Eye Opener.

Peregrino Af has one win in five starts, a consolation race for the Pocatello Downs Spring Futurity. He also qualified to the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass.

Completing the field were Jbc Capricho, Jr, Sorelli Lights, Juan Best Card, El Cookie and La Bichota. Lee Wes T was scratched.