Challenge


Maxx Breaks Maiden in John Deere Juvenile, Bm Casina Royale Solid in Adequan Derby Challenge
Jockey Manuel Gutierrez rides Maxx to his first career win in the $69,390 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3) Monday afternoon at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Coady Photography
Maxx Breaks Maiden in John Deere Juvenile, Bm Casina Royale Solid in Adequan Derby Challenge

HOUSTON, TX—MAY 16, 2016—Sam Houston Race Park's 2016 American Quarter Horse racing season wrapped up on Monday, May 16. Two Bank of America Challenge stakes races, originally carded on Saturday, May 14, were rescheduled for closing day.

Maxx Impressive Winner of the $69,390 John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3)

Trainer Rolando Almanza has a very good track record with 2-year-olds in the John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge (G3). Last year, he won the stakes with Undivided Atemption. Today, he and rider Manuel Gutierrez teamed up with Maxx for owner Irma Z. Vargas. The son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of the Bully Bullion mare Bullions N Garters, was just making his second career start. He ran second to fastest qualifier Teardrops At The Bar in trials on April 22, but reversed the order of finish in today’s final. Breaking from post position five, Maxx finished with authority, covering 350 yards in :17.502.

Winning owner Irma Vargas, trainer Rolando Almanza and jockey Manuel Gutierrez pickup the John Deere Texas Juvenile Challenge hardware in the Sam Houston winner's circle. © Coady Photography
“It’s always a blessing and I thank the Lord,” said Almanza. “He broke great today; got out front and stayed there. We knew he could run and everything worked out.”

Almanza also saddled Shez Freaky, owned by Mario Lozano-Cantu, who ran fourth in the $268,000 Harrah's Futurity at Louisiana Downs on March 23.

“We had a lot of faith in her, but also in Maxx,” added Almanza. “He ran a little funny in the trials, so we made some changes and it seemed to make a big difference.”

Teardrops at the Bar ran second under jockey Luis Vivanco. Bred and owned by James Hrabovsky and J. Leann Nalls, the homebred son of champion sire Separatist picked up $13,878 to boost his three race total more than $20,000. The gelding from the First To Shine mare Eye Shine Special had won both his starts prior to the John Deere Juvenile.

Second fastest qualifier Jayronimo earned $6,939 for his third place effort. Also trained by Stroud, the Jess Zoomin colt was ridden by jockey Jose Alvarez. Jayronimo is a Texas homebred, from the Game Patriot mare Dashing Patriot, for owner/breeder Michael Amburn. He entered the final off two wins in two starts and has earned $13,239.

Maxx paid $11.80 as the second betting choice, and earned $31,119.

Chase The Rainstorm finished fifth but was disqualified for interfering with Pool Runner and was placed sixth. Completing the official order of finish were Gustafame, Pool Runner, Chase The Rainstorm, Shez Freaky, Wishing Rock, Mulliner and R Imperial Princess.

Maxx is paid into the All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs and will ship to New Mexico to prepare for the August trials. He will represent Texas in the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Los Alamitos on October 29.

Confident Rally by BM Casina Royale in the $44,460 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge

Bobby W. Myers' homebred BM Casina Royale was the second fastest qualifier in trials to the $44,460 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge on April 23 at Sam Houston Race Park. She saved her best effort for the final, drawing off to a 1 ¼ length victory under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo.

The race had a very eventful beginning when Ima Dashing Gator broke through the gate and was scratched.

Leading Sam Houston jockey Rodrigo Vallejo rides Bm Casina Royale to victory in the $44,640 Adequan Texas Derby Challenge Monday afternoon at Sam Houston Race Park. © Coady Photography
Following close to a 20-minute delay, the field was reloaded and BM Casina Royale blazed to her 400-yard victory in :19.700 seconds, earning a 106 speed index. The track, sloppy when racing began at 1:00 pm, was upgraded to fast by the running of the Adequan.

Multiple stakes finalist Bm Casina Royale, a daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon out of the Royal Shake Em mare Joyalty is trained by leading Sam Houston Race Park conditioner Judd Kearl.

“She’s a super filly; tries her guts out every time,” said Kearl. “She was stakes-placed, but finally got her first stakes win. She comes from a good family; everything that mare produces can run.”

A stakes-placed homebred for owner/breeder/trainer Jorge Haddad, Mazzimo earned $8,928 for his runner-up finish. Manuel Gutierrez rode the son of second crop sire The Louisiana Cartel out of Las Alamitos, by First Down Dash. Mazzimo is a half-brother to five stakes horses including Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity winner Ragazzo and Grade 2 Sunland Park Winter Futurity winner Giorgino.

The winning connections of Bm Casina Royale accept the Adequan Texas Challenge Derby stakes trophy at Sam Houston Race Park Monday afternoon.
© Coady Photography
Mad Max Cartel finished third, but was disqualified to last for interference. SR Esmeralda was placed third. Silva Robles homebred by multiple stakes sire Red Storm Cat picked up $4,464 for the third place effort. Abel Morin conditions the filly out of the Stoli mare Lets Get Fiscal. Noe Villatoro was aboard. A finalist in the TQHA Sires' Cup Futurity(RG3), Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge(G3) and Retama Juvenile Challenge last season, Sr Esmeralda has earned $19,157.

Completing the official order of finish were Brookside, Juanny Futbol, Swifter Deal, Love Is Great, Moonraker Thoughts and Mad Maxx. Ima Dashing Gator was a late scratch after flipping prior to the start.

Sent off as the betting favorite, Bm Casina Royale paid $5.20 for the win, adding her fifth career win from 11 starts. With today’s check of $20,534, the Oklahoma-bred has now earned $47,943.

Bm Casina Royale will head to Delta Downs for the Firecracker Derby before shipping to the $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos on October 29.

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Sam Houston Race Park is Houston’s premier racing and entertainment facility, located just 15 miles from downtown Houston, and offers a variety of attractions including our Suite Level presented by Draft Kings, The Pavilion Centre, and award-winning dining options at the Winner’s Circle Restaurant and the Jockey Club. For more information on upcoming group events, racing events, shows and tickets, please visit www.shrp.com.