Challenge


Queen Catherine, Rare Scheme Top Will Rogers Challenge Trails
Queen Catherine, under jockey Cesar Gomez, setting the top qualifying time for the John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge.

© Coady Photography
Queen Catherine, Rare Scheme Top Will Rogers Challenge Trails

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 27, 2015—Will Rogers Downs hosted the final set of trials for the AQHA Racing Challenge races in 2015 on Sunday. The Northeastern Oklahoma racetrack carded three trials for the $32,500 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge and eight trials for the $32,500-added John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge.

Both finals are set for Sunday, October 11th and the eventual winner's will also earn a starting spot in their respective divisions on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Lone Star Park November 7.

John Deere Juvenile Trials

Queen Catherine has already garnered a starting spot in the $150,000-Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G3) by winning the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile in her last start on August 1st. Today the daughter of first crop sire Freighttrain B drove to an easy 1¼ length win in the sixth trail to post the top John Deere Will Rogers qualifying time of :17.630 seconds for the 350 yards.

Kasey Willis saddled the sorrel filly to her third win in seven starts for owner Hay Racing. Gary Vaughn bred Queen Catherine in Oklahoma from the Agouti mare Ms Casholene. She has earned $45,660 this season. Cesar Gomez was up.

The lightly raced Bachichanator got his second career win in the final trial under jockey Ramiro Garcia. The Utah-bred son of Carters Cartel completed the 350 yards in :17.696 to win by half-a-length and post the second fastest clocking.

Jonathan Chavira was saddling the bay gelding for only his third start for owner Jose Nieto. Bred by Craig Giles Racing, LLC, Bachichanator entered the race off seventh place finish in the $203,210 Mile High Futurity at Arapahoe Park in August. He is out of the thoroughbred mare Nine To Midnight, by Marquetry.

For the complete list of finalists for the John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Adequan Derby Challenge Trials

Third in the Mile High Derby earlier this year, Rare Scheme raced to the top qualifying time of :19.722 seconds Sunday afternoon in the Adequan Derby Challenge trails at Will Rogers Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from the three trial races contested today, will return to the Northwestern Oklahoma racetrack on Sunday, October 11 and vie for not only the winner's share of $32,500-added purse but also an invite to participate in the $200,000-Guaranteed Grade 2 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park November 7.

Rare Scheme, under jockey Daniel Torres, setting the top qualifying time on Sunday for the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge. © Coady Photography
Racing for owner-breeder Richard and Genevieve Herrman, the Colorado-bred son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon dueled Sweet Sold Rock throughout to win by a neck and earn a 96-speed index. Jockey Daniel Torres rode the 3-year-old to his fourth career win in 11 starts. Out of the Rare Form mare Rarest Daisy, Rare Scheme has earned $28,463.

Sexy And I Know It B raced to his fourth consecutive win in the first trial with a one-length effort to post the second fastest time of :19.741 seconds. Also ridden by Torres, Miguel Banuelos conditions the Apollitical Jess gelding for owner Romualdo Lopez.

Bielau Oaks bred the gray in Oklahoma from the Takin On The Cash mare Sheza Lilbituino. Unraced at 2, Sexy And I Know It B has won four of six starts and earned $26,089 this season.

Political Debut was a half-length winner in the final trial under jockey Agustin Silva to get the eighth fastest time of :19.951 seconds. R.L. Robinson saddled the Apollitical Jess filly for owner Garza Laurel Partnership, LLC.

Bobby D. Cox bred the sorrel filly in Texas from the First Down Dash mare Sizzling Lola. This was the third win in 11 starts for the earner of nearly $30,000.

For the complete list of Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.