Challenge Undercard Filled With Strong Races

Top stakes horses fill all the races on Bank of America Racing Challenge Championship night.

By Martha Claussen
October 28, 2011

Saturday night’s 12-race card at Los Alamitos will be highlighted by six Bank of America Challenge Championship events where regional winners will compete for national prominence. The evening will feature six additional undercard races with full fields sure to entertain fans of American Quarter Horse racing.

The action begins with the $25,000 John Deere Stakes with a field of 3-year-olds competing at 400 yards. Fall For It, who set a stakes record at Los Alamitos in the La Primera Del Ano Derby (G2), will face nine tough rivals, including several recent entrants in the PQHRA Derby.

Next up is the $25,000 AQHA Members Plus Stakes with Azshecanfly, who recently ran in the $150,000 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1), is the 2-1 betting choice for leading Los Alamitos conditioner Adan Farias. The 4-year-old will face challenges from several of the 3 and 4-year-olds entered in the 400 yard event.

The third race on the card features Bodacious Dash, winner of the $1 million Texas Classic Futurity (G1) last November at Lone Star Park, in the $25,000 John Deere Stakes. Trainer Trey Wood saw this race as an important prep for the upcoming trials for the Champion of Champions.

“In the trials for the Super Derby (on October 15), he ran like a green 2-year-old,” said Wood of his colt who is closing in on the $700,000 earnings mark. “He’s a way better horse than that and we wanted to give him another out on the Los Al surface.”

Trainer Adan Farias sends out a trio in the fourth race on the card, the $25,000 Farnam Stakes, at the distance of 440 yards. A Streakinson, Bud Cheeks and Sparky E Boy will have to contend with Flaming Out, who returned to action for trainer Ugo De La Torre with a brilliant effort last month.

In the 350-yard Markel Stakes for 2-year-olds, trainer Paul Jones saddles Mr TR and Impassion Queen, who steps up to stakes company after two wins at the maiden and claiming ranks. Its Our Secret and Chickitita both ran in the $35,000 Autumn Handicap on October 10.

The six Bank of America Challenge Championship Stakes follow and the $25,000 Nutrena Starter Allowance Stakes closes out the card. Gimme Corona steps up in class following his claiming win on September 30 for trainer Jose Flores.

First post time for the Saturday, October 29, Bank of America Challenge is 7 p.m. Pacific time. The 19th Bank of America Racing Challenge Championships, the season-ending championship event of AQHA's purse and bonus awards program, will be televised on TVG. Racing fans will also be able to watch it live, free of charge, on Q-Racing Video at www.qracingvideo.com. Check www.aqharacing.com for the latest news and information.

Bank of America is a proud sponsor of the Bank of America® Racing Challenge Championships.  AQHA members can take advantage of exclusive checking and savings accounts, lines of credit and credit cards.  Show your passion for horses and click here for more information or to open an account.