Challenge


Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge Trials Draw 18 Entries
Rock Princess will head two trials for the Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge trials at Lone Star Park Saturday night.

© Gay Harris / Ruidoso Downs
Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge Trials Draw 18 Entries

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRAND PRAIRIE, TEXAS—SEPTEMBER 17, 2015—A total of 18 fillies and mares has been entered in Saturday’s 400-yard Merial Lone Star Distaff Challenge trials at Lone Star Park.

Rock Princess, a homebred 4-year-old daughter of Rock Solid Jess racing for Jack Manning and trainer Tammy Kay Johnson, is the 2-1 morning-line favorite in the first of two heats. Rock Princess has earned $15,121 from seven outs this year, and her season record includes a second-place finish to Echoes Of Love in the May 10, $51,000 Merial Remington Distaff Challenge in Oklahoma. She also won the Corona Cartel Stakes at Ruidoso Downs last season.

Rock Princess drew post 7 and will be ridden by Ricardo Aguirre.

Turner Farms’ Visual Magic, a 3-year-old Corona Cartel filly trained by Trey Wood, drew the rail post in the second trial. A finalist in the March 21, $268,000 Oklahoma Derby (G3) at Remington Park, Visual Magic is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign in which she scored a one-length victory in a 440-yard Rainbow Derby (G1) trial on July 5.

Ricky Ramirez will ride Visual Magic on Saturday.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $30,000-added final on October 3.

All Lone Star Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.