RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—AUGUST 28, 2021—Bad Monkey got another Challenge stakes win on Saturday when he defeated Painted Snowclouds by a head in the $55,726 Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge Saturday afternoon at Ruidoso Downs.

Ridden by jockey Bento Baca, Bad Monkey completed the 400 yards in :19.903 seconds, a 90 speed index into a 6 mph crosswind. Dean Frey is the owner-breeder and trainer of the son of multiple stakes sire Capo de Capi.

Bad Monkey kicked off his stakes career last year at Ruidoso when he won the John Deere Juvenile Challenge(G3). He followed that by qualifying for the Grade 2 Dash For Cash Futurity at Lone Star Park then went on to win the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) at The Downs at Albuquerque on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night.

Today's win guarantees him another trip to Albuquerque for the $125,000-est. Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) on October 27th.

Out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Girls Eye Too, Bad Monkey has won six of 11 career starts and used today's winner's purse valued at $26.634 to boost his bankroll to $163,500.

Painted Snowcoulds earned $11,145 for second. Clinton Crawford trains the Pyc Paint Your Wagon gelding for owner Rick Crispi. Randy Davies bred the bay gelding in Oklahoma from the This Snow Is Royal mare Snow Clouds. Francisco Calderon had the riding call.

Jose Guzman's Apolitica finished a neck back in the blanket finish to earn $5,573 for third. Santos Carrizales, Jr. saddled the Apollitical Jess filly out of Madresita by Pappasito. Butch and Stephanie Webb is the breeder.

Contender, All Night Hero, ,Isa Super Freak, Apollitical Hero, Sullee, Jess Good Enough and CC Revv Her completed the field.