SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Oct. 22, 2022) – Meet Me Out Back and Jockey Jesus Salazar finished in front of the full field of 10 in the Grade 2 $134,003 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship Saturday, Oct. 22 at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The duo covered the 350-yard distance in a time of :17.870 for the win.
Meet Me Out Back and Salazar got out of the gate with no issues and put a nose in front early in the contest. Two-year-olds were battling across the track with Meet Me out Back holding a slight lead along the inside. As the field neared the wire, the outside horses were closing in hard led by local favorite Extermynator and German Rodriguez. But their efforts were a little too late as Meet Me Out Back held on for the win by a head. Extermynator finished a head in front of Ms Flaming Finish and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez for second.
Meet Me Out Back is owned by Jose Meraz. Shawna Manriquez, who came to the winner’s circle from her duties as a pony rider for the evening, oversaw the training responsibilities for Jose Villafranco. Meet Me Out Back paid $18.00 for the win.
“Jose Villafranco asked me if I’d bring this horse up here for the Challenge,” said Manriquez, who saddled three for the event. “He came in and settled in good. I’m glad to be here. It’s something you strive for as a trainer to win any type of stakes, especially a Graded Stakes. That’s what we do every day is work hard for that and work hard to get wins for owners.”
Meet Me Out Back, who was purchased for $18,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale in 2021, was bred by Bobby Cox. The sorrel son of Dominyun earned his second career win in the event and moved his career bankroll to more than $109,000 with the win. Salazar has now ridden the gelding three times, earning two second place finishes and the Graded Stakes win in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship.
“It was really a clean break,” added Salazar. “I want to thank God and I have my daughter here with me tonight. He (Meet Me Out Back) really performed big. He’s getting better each time.”
Photos by Coady Photography
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