SHELBYVILLE, Ind. (Saturday, Sept. 3, 2022) – Two trials including 12 starters for the John Deere Juvenile Challenge were contested at Horseshoe Indianapolis during the fifth All-Quarter Horse racing program. Time for a Hero and Cristian Reyes topped the times with a win in the first division to head to the final slated for $30,000 final set for Thursday, Sept. 22. The trials were just one step closer to the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships, which will be hosted by Horseshoe Indianapolis for the first time Saturday, Oct. 22.
Time for a Hero broke well from the center of the track in post four and was in contention for the lead the entire 350-yard sprint. The Apollitical Blood gelding dug in a few strides before the wire and posted the win in the five-horse photo, just a neck ahead of A Preachers Daughter and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, who came roaring up late on the outside. KVN Queen and Juan Marquez finished third.
"We stayed on top and the break was good," said Reyes. "He never gave up. he's a good horse for a good trainer."
Time for a Hero was making his first start for Trainer Natasha Perez and added his second straight win to his credentials, following up from a win at Sam Houston in late May. Owned by Spencer Tunnell, Time for a Hero paid $9.00 for the win clocked in :17.889 seconds. He was a $20,000 purchase from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall.
Post four proved to be the lucky number in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge as the second trial was also wearing the yellow four saddle towel. Extermynator and Juan Marquez came out of the gates well and led throughout. In the final strides, The Apollitical Lady and Giovani Vazquez-Gomez were charging hard late on the extreme outside and almost nabbed Extermynator at the wire, but he repelled the challenge by a short nose. Streakin to Thrill and German Rodriguez finished third.
"The horse stepped out of the gate well," said Marquez through translation. "Then, he just ran really well."
Extermynator earned his third straight win in four starts for his young career. The heavy favorite, the Tres Seis gelding paid $2.40 for the win. He was a $55,000 purchase from the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale last fall.
Both Extermynator and Time for a Hero are graduates of the Heritage Place Sales. Should one of them advance to the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championships, a Grade 2 event running for a purse of $125,000 on Challenge Championship Night, they would be in the running for the $15,000 bonus to the highest placing graduate of the Heritage Place Yearling Sales from 2021.
The entire field advancing to the John Deere Juvenile Final Thursday, Sept. 22, with rider and time, includes: Time for a Hero (Cristian Reyes, :17.889); A Preacher’s Daughter (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, :17.918); Extermynator (Juan Marquez, :17.932); The Apollitical Lady (Giovani Vazquez-Gomez, :17.939); KVN Queen (Juan Marquez, :17.962); Jettin Jetta (L.D. Martinez, :17.996); Hes Legendary (Erik Esqueda, :18.008); One Dun Hero (German Rodriguez, :18.044); Streakin to Thrill (German Rodriguez, :18.191); and What Els is New (Antonio Rodriguez, :18.212). Randy Smith will saddle five in the final (Extermynator, KVN Queen, One Dun Hero, Streakin to Thrill, What Else is New) and Jessi Vazquez will saddle two (A Preachers Daughter, The Apollitical Lady). Other graduates of Heritage Place heading to the final that will be eligible for the bonus should they advance to the John Deere Challenge Championship includes A Preacher’s Daughter, KVN Queen, Streakin to Thrill, and The Apollitical Lady.
Photos by Coady Photography
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