Challenge


Regional Challenge Doubleheader Set for Saturday at Prairie Meadows
Aqua Flash heads a field of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 350-yard, $62,190 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes.

© Coady Photography
Regional Challenge Doubleheader Set for Saturday at Prairie Meadows

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 13, 2018—Thomas J. Scheckel’s Aqua Flash heads a field of 10 2-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 350-yard, $62,190 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes.

The fastest qualifier, Aqua Flash made her local debut with a half-length victory as the 3-5 favorite in the first of two trials on September 1. The gray daughter of champion First Moonflash has earned $74,645 from four starts, and she was a finalist in the June 2, $1.025-million Heritage Place Futurity (G1) at Remington Park.

Aqua Flash drew post 7 and will be ridden by Roberto Valero for trainer Shawna Manriquez.

The winner of this race will earn a berth in the November 17 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Chicken Lips (Nakia Ramirez)
  2. Fancy As It Gets (Bonifacio Quiroz)
  3. SW Bullet Proof (Alfredo Triana Jr.)
  4. Dowhatigotta (David E. Brown)
  5. Maghelene (Cristian R. Esqueda)
  6. Maybe Painted (Chya Johnstone)
  7. Aqua Flash (Roberto Valero)
  8. Ima JJ Junior (Ramiro H. Garcia)
  9. Jess My Joy (Yordanis Amaro)
  10. Beduino Painted Dash (Jesus Salazar)

Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge

Also on Saturday, George L. Seward’s Vallero drew post 7 for the 400-yard, $54,270 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge.

Trained by John Hammes, Vallero has earned $46,387 from nine races, and his three wins include a half-length score as the 7-10 favorite in last year’s 350-yard, $64,000 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge. The gelded son of Valiant Hero will be ridden by Alfredo Triana Jr.

The winner of this race will earn a spot in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos on November 17. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Paint My Southern (Nakia Ramirez)
  2. Painted Dynasty (Cristian Esqueda)
  3. Jesse Justice (Marcus Swiontek)
  4. High Valley Girl (Roberto Valero)
  5. NSM Favorite Zoomer (Berkley Packer)
  6. The Fiscal Storm (David E. Brown)
  7. Vallero (Alfredo Triana Jr.)
  8. Olivias Jett (Bonifacio Quiroz)
  9. Apollitical Approach (Ramiro Garcia)
  10. Hott Link (James Flores)

All Prairie Meadows races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.