LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 14, 2021—Edward and Von Zae McNelis enjoyed one of the biggest wins of their careers as Quarter Horse owners after their homebred Scoops Dynasty finished powerfully to hold off PF Racing Stables, LLC’s Freighttrain Cartel to win the $54,978 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

With the victory Scoops Dynasty punched his ticket to the AQHA Bank of America Racing Challenge to be held at The Downs at Albuquerque in late October. For the McNelis of Nampa, Idaho, the victory ranks high up there among their most treasured wins.

“We raised this guy,” Edward McNelis said. “We’ve raised a few horses (in Nampa) and we take pride on what we do and how we raise them. We’re just elated. This victory is one of the best of all-time for us. We’ve won some futurities but this is pretty big to us. This horse is entered in the Golden State Million and the Los Alamitos Two Million. We’ll be back.”

Edward McNelis is among the most respected horseman in the Quarter Horse racing industry. He was the recipient of the 2018 Merle Wood Humanitarian Award and is widely regarded as a leader in promoting youth programs for various horse related disciplines.

An AQHA Director Emeritus, McNelis is a past president of the Idaho Quarter Horse Association, member of the Idaho Horse Board, and Idaho racing steward. He has also been a voice of the industry to the legislature in Idaho. A longtime successful banker, McNelis is now enjoying breeding highly competitive Quarter Horses.

“I’ve been involved with Quarter Horses since I was born,” he said. “I had my first runner in about 1970. I was in and out of the industry but then I bought Scoops Dynasty’s mama (Bye Sweet Girl). We bought her here at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. She’s just been super for us. All of her foals can run.”

Sired by FDD Dynasty, Scoops Dynasty’s full sister is Mommas Dynasty, who won The Plan Handicap at Los Alamito and ran third in the Idaho Cup Futurity. Another full sibling is Reason To Stay In, who ran third in the Cypress Speed Stakes. In partnership with Karla Diaz, the McNelis also raced One Sweet Dance, who won the Intermountain Futurity in 2017 on the way to career earnings of $27,075.

Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Monty Arrossa, the Idaho-bred Scoops Dynasty earned $25,290 for the win to raise his career earnings to $26,175. This was his first win in three starts.

“There’ll be a lot of celebrating,” McNelis said referring to his family back home. “I know what’s happening at my house tonight. A lot of good friends and people are connected to this horse. It’s good for Idaho and for us.”

Ridden by Henry Reynoso Lopez for trainer Lindolfo Diaz, Freighttrain Cartel earned $10,995 for running second after lugging in early. The son of Freighttrain B is out of Miss Gray Cartel by Corona Cartel.

Dasha Dynasty, who came in as the fastest qualifier, bumped at the start on the way to running third for Robyn Gordon, Juan Moya and S-Quarter K LLC. Trained by Jose Flores and ridden by Ramon Sanchez, the son of FDD Dynasty earned $5,498.

KR Hercules, Dasha Good Reason, Unavailable, Brokenhearttattoo, The Blue Mallard, and Lethal Blood completed the field.

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