Jess Good Wine, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, is a handy winner in the $87,236 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino Saturday.

© Bailey Ivey / Ruidoso Downs

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 13, 2022–Starting off a second-place effort in the John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge(G3) in his last start on June 16th, Jess Good Wine blew the competition away today when he posted a 2-3/4 length win to set the fastest qualifying time for the $87,236 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from four trial races for Challenge-enrolled 2-year-olds, will return to Ruidoso Downs on Saturday, August 27th to vie for the $40,128 winner's share of the purse going 350 yards.

Under jockey Bryan Candanosa Jess Good Wine cleared the field early to complete the 350 yards in :17.258 seconds, a 101 speed index with a 4 mph tailwind. It was the Oklahoma-bred son of champion Good Reason SA's first career win in four starts.

Trainer Toby Keeton conditions the $35,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate for owner Guns Up Racing.  Flag Ranch LLC bred the 2-year-old colt from the Mr Jess Perry mare Mr Perrys Wine.

Bold N Brave, a $90,00 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, was a three-quarter length winner in the opening trial to get the second fastest time of :17.530 seconds, a 93 speed index.

Trainer John Stinebaugh saddled the son of leading sire Corona Cartel from the Mr Jess Perry mare Big Biz Perry for owner HV Ranch, LLC. It was the second win in three starts for the Texas-bred earner of $8,620.  Julianna Hawn Holt bred the bay gelding.

The winner of the August 27 final will advance to the Grade 2 $125,000-est. John Deere Juvenile Championship to be at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night, October 22.

For a complete list John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge qualifiers, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.