Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship Preview

Some of the country’s fastest fillies and mares will sprint 400 yards in Saturday’s $115,000 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1), one of five graded stakes during the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque. 

Arrowhead Racing’s Alliekat Dynasty has been installed as the 5-2 morning line favorite, and she tops the field with 10 career wins from just 17 starts. The 4-year-old daughter of FDD Dynasty qualified for this race with a victory in the $33,660 Cox Ranch Will Rogers Downs Distaff Challenge (G3) in her last start. Prior to that, she won the $82,520 Easy Date Stakes (G2) and finished second in the $107,280 Junos Request Stakes (G1) at Remington Park. An earner of $337,460 bred in Oklahoma by Jahree Standridge, Alliekat Dynasty drew post 9 with regular rider Roman Cruz up for trainer James Gonzales III.

CNN Breeding’s Paige, who finished a close third behind Alliekat Dynasty in the Easy Date, will also be among the favorites after two stakes wins at Albuquerque. Last month the Tempting Dash mare captured the $50,000 Balloon City Stakes (G2) and $52,266 Cox Ranch Albuquerque Distaff Challenge (G3). The Oklahoma-bred will break from post 5 with Jacob Enriquez named to ride for trainer Clint Crawford. 

Cowgurl Up also comes in with a two-race winning streak against stakes competition. The Flying Cowboy 123 mare was victorious in the $57,125 Miss Retama Stakes (R) and $28,611 Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge in Texas. Owned by P & J Racing Ltd., she has post 3 with Raul Hernandez Jr. set to ride for trainer Carlos Cruz Lopez. 

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