Champion of Champions Preview
Champion of Champions Preview
A full field of 10 sprinters, led by three major contenders from the barn of trainer Heath Taylor, are entered in American Quarter Horse racing's richest race for older runners, Saturday's 440-yard, $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos Racecourse.
The sport's champion trainer in 2022, Taylor will send out the three morning-line favorites -- Jess Good Wine (2-1), Jeriko (5-2), and Empressum (3-1). A 4-year-old son of Good Reason SA campaigned by Guns Up Racing, Jess Good Wine has won all four of his starts this year -- all against graded stakes company -- and he has earned $377,930. Saturday's start will mark his first race since September 2, when the sorrel gelding scored a three-quarter length victory in the 440-yard, $250,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.
Jess Good Wine drew post 8 and will be ridden by Bryan Candanosa.
Jeriko is a homebred son of One Famous Eagle racing for Bobby D. Cox. The brown gelding qualified to this year's Champion of Champions off of his wire-to-wire, 1 3/4-length victory in the October 12, 440-yard Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1).
Jeriko drew post 5 and will be ridden by Jose Nicasio.
Empressum was American Quarter Horse racing's world champion in 2022. A homebred son of world champion Apollitical Jess owned by Jeff Jones and Steve Holt, the 6-year-old gelding has banked $204,750 from four outs this year, and he won two Champion of Champions qualifying races: the 400-yard, $150,000 Vessels Maturity in July, and the 400-yard, $100,000 Go Man Go Stakes in August.
Empressum drew post 10 and will be ridden by Rodrigo Vallejo.
The 52nd running of the Champion of Champions will be the last race on Los Alamitos' eight-race Saturday program. Estimated post time is set for 9:09 p.m. (PST).
For a more detailed preview of the race, click here. Click here to watch a video preview.
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