Maiden Challenge at Pocatello Downs a Success

The Maiden Challenge was part of the AQHA Challenge program that offers additional purse money to Quarter Horses that enroll in the lifelong Challenge program. The Maiden Challenge series specifically offers money to horses that have yet to break their maiden, helping owners and trainers to find competitive spots for their late-blooming horses.

TwinSpires own Michelle Yu and Jen Perkins were on-site at Pocatello to support the race, distribute free giveaways and handicapping materials, and help interested people sign up for TwinSpires accounts.

Stallionesearch covered the Maiden Challenge race and the two additional stakes, the Bank of America Pocatello Downs Championship Challenge and the Rocky Mountain Spring Classic Futurity.

From Stallionesearch.com:

POCATELLO, ID— MAY 29, 2017—It was an all-Hanson exacta in the $18,500 AQHA Maiden Challenge at Pocatello Downs on Monday, as Dashing Executive ($8.40) edged out stablemate Cartels Jubalee in the first of three stakes races on the card.

Trained by Mark Hanson and ridden by Eddie Aceves, Dashing Executive covered the 350 yards in :17.558 and earned a 105 speed index. Rob Evans and Hanson Racing LLC own the 3-year-old filly, who was bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock.

Dashing Executive is by First Down Dash, out of the Executive Menace mare Executive Looks, a multiple graded stakes winner with lifetime earnings exceeding $250,000. She was the sixth-fastest qualifier from trials held at Pocatello on May 14.

Hanson’s other trainee, Cartels Jubalee, closed strongly to finish a neck behind and a neck ahead of third-place finisher Jess A Lil Fishy with Francisco Rubio aboard. The Corona Cartel gelding was the ninth fastest qualifier.

Cartels Jubalee is owned by RTM Stables LLC and Shauna Dunn. The 3-year-old was bred in Oklahoma by Terry and Irene Stennett, out of the First Down Dash mare Cherry Jubalee.

The fastest qualifier for the race, Jess A Lil Fishy, ran third in a close finish to the Maiden Challenge with Never Marin aboard. Trained by Fredy Olmos, the 3-year-old filly qualified to the final with a time of :17.513 and a 106 speed index; today, her time of :17.622 earned a 103 index in the final.

Jess A Lil Fishy is by Apollitical Jess, out of Lil Fishy, by Fishers Dash. She is owned by Joe Ward and was bred in Ontario by Dream Chaser Farm.