The Legend Stone, under jockey Armando Ramierz, winning the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge on Saturday night.

© Coady Photography

SELMA, TX—AUGUST 17, 2019—In the final race of the night at Retama, Armando Ramirez II and The Legend Stone finished strong to win the $71,341 John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge.

The final time for the 350-yard race was 17.966; the winning duo earned an 89 speed index.

The Legend Stone ($17.60) won his trial on July 27 despite stumbling at the start. He became the fourth fastest qualifier from four trials that day; the second and third finishers in his trial returned to finish in the money behind in him in the final as well.

The winning connections of The Legend Stone accept the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile Challenge stakes trophy. © Coady Photography

The Legend Stone is trained by Alfredo Triana for owner Rancho La Cobra. He was bred in Oklahoma by Gary and Randal Kurz, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon and out of Charmin Chief Corona, by Chief Corona. Pyc Paint Your Wagon progeny swept both Challenge races on the Retama Saturday night card.

Now with three wins in five starts, The Legend Stone notched his first career stakes win and has earnings of $47,515.

Mia Favoritta was third in the same trial as The Legend Stone and returned to finish in second place, just a head of Rusty Blood Gl, who defeated her by a nose in their trial. Cruz Mendez was aboard Mia Favorita for the first time for trainer Jorge Haddad.

Haddad also owns and bred the daughter of Favorite Cartel in Texas, out of the First Down Dash mare Las Alamitos.

Mia Favoritta has never finished worse than third in her five career starts, including a maiden-breaking debut at Delta Downs and several allowance races.

Rusty Blood Gl and Victor Urieta, Jr were third for trainer Josue Ponce. The Apollitical Blood gelding is out of the Valiant Hero mare Dusty Rusty, and was bred in Texas by his owner, the Garza Laurel Partnership LLC.

Rusty Blood Gl is still in search of his first career victory but qualified to the $459,700 Sam Houston Futurity (G2) and finished fifth in the final behind Trump My Record, Pa Cha Ching and A Painted Dynasty; Pa Cha Ching was the fastest qualifier to the John Deere Retama Park Juvenile and finished fifth.

Completing the field were Prey N On Temptation, Pa Cha Ching, Hes El Martillo, Como Cartel, El Alexito, Hb Birdman and Heza Forever Lucky.