Q-Racing Blog: Top Tier

By Ty Wyant

It’s that time of year to determine some of the 2023 champions when the $750,000 Champion of Champions (G1) is contested on December 9. Every year since the first Champion of Champions was run in 1972, it has been a force in the voting for champions. The 440-yard classic has produced frequent world champions, from 1972’s Mr Jet Moore to 2022’s Empressum, who is back to defend his Champion of Champions title.

Here’s a look at this year’s entrants and their 2023 race records.

Post Position: 1
Flash Bak, 5, g
Moonin The Eagle-Checknbac by Check Him Out
Owner: Valerino Racing Stables LLC
Breeders: Jim Streelman or Bill Dale
Trainer: M. Heath Taylor
Jockey: Francisco Calderon

Flash Bak earn his presumptive berth in the Champion of Champions with a third-place finish in the $20,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trial. He scored his most important win when he defeated all-time leading money earner KJ Desparado by a head in the $350,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1).

Post Position: 2
Empressum, 5, g
Apollitical Jess-Crazy Down Corona by First Down Dash
Owners: Jeff Jones and Steve Holt
Breeders: Jeff Jones and Steve Holt
Trainer: M. Heath Taylor
Jockey: Rodrigo Sigala Vallejo

Probable Champion of Champions favorite Empressum won two races that provide provisional invitations to the Champion of Champions: The $125,000 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Championship (G1) as the 2-5 favorite and the $150,000 Vessels Maturity (G1). He also won the $48,994 Los Alamitos Championship Challenge. He was second to Scoops Dynasty in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap (G1) and second to Apollitical Pence in the $144,950 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship (G1).

Post Position: 3
Whiskey Creek, 3, g
Apollitical Jess-Checknbac by Check Him Out
Owners: Wootan Racing and Roger K. Beasley
Breeders: Jim Streelman or Bill Dale
Trainer: M. Heath Taylor
Jockey: Bryan Candanosa

Whiskey Creek was a 28-1 surprise when he won the $1,199,686 All American Derby G1) at Ruidoso Downs and earned his presumptive Champion of Champions invitation. He then went to Los Alamitos and finished fifth in his trial to the Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1).

Post Position: 4
Shott Gun, 5, g
Valiant Hero-Eye Popping by Mr Eye Opener
Owner: Bobby Cox
Breeder: Bobby Cox
Trainer: M. Heath Taylor
Jockey: Jesus Rios Ayala

Shott Gun gained a spot in the Champion of Champions with a fifth-place run in the $20,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trial. He prepared for that effort with a win in the $25,000 Azure Three Handicap.

Post Position: 5
A Tres Of Eagle, 4, g
One Fabulous Eagle-A Tres Of Paint by Tres Seis
Owner: Bella Vista Farms LLC
Breeder: The Mixer Ranch
Trainer: Eddie Willis
Jockey: Daniel Soto

A Tres Of Eagle makes his Los Alamitos debut in the Champion of Champions after winning the $263,750 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Lone Star Park on October 21. At Remington Park, he won the $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes (RG1) and the $68,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes (G2). He also won the $48,620 Arapahoe Park Championship Challenge.

Post Position: 6
Take A Swig Of This, 3, g
A Revenant-PYC Prize Doll by PYC Paint Your Wagon
Owner: Dunn Ranch
Breeder: Weetona Stanley
Trainer: Monty Arrossa
Jockey: Eduardo Nicasio

Take A Swig Of This reached the Champion of Champions by finishing fourth in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trial. He had a strong first half of 2023 when he won the $183,350 Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) and then the $268,750 Heritage Place Derby (G2) over Hooked N Gone.

Post Position: 7
Jeriko, 3, g
One Famous Eagle-Signs Zoomer by Shazoom
Owner: Bobby Cox
Breeder: Bobby Cox
Trainer: M. Heath Taylor
Jockey: Jose Nicasio

Another representative for American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame member and top breeder and owner Bobby Cox, Jeriko earned his provisional berth in the Champion of Champions with a late running one-half-length win over in the $935,650 Los Alamitos Super Derby as the 8-5 favorite. He has three wins from four 2023 starts and also won his Rainbow Derby trial and his Los Alamitos Super Derby trial.

Post Position: 8
Scoops Dynasty, 4, g
FDD Dynasty-Bye Sweet Girl by Dashin Bye
Owners: Edward J. McNelis and Von Zae McNelis
Breeders: Edward J. McNelis and Von Zae McNelis
Trainer: Monty Arrossa
Jockey: James Flores

Scoops Dynasty earned his provisional invitation to the Champion of Champions when he defeated Empressum in the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap (G1). He successfully competed at the highest level at Los Alamitos with a second in the $48,994 Los Alamitos Championship Challenge, a second in the $150,000 Vessels Maturity (G1) and a third in the $144,950 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship (G1).

Post Position: 9
Apollitical Pence, 7, g
Apollitical Jess-Send City by Tres Seis
Owner: Dunn Ranch
Breeders: Womack Cavender Farms and Dunn Ranch
Trainer: Monty Arrossa
Jockey: Armando Cervantes

Two-time Champion of Champions winner Apollitical Pence became the first horse to earn a provisional berth in the Champion of Champions when he won the $144,950 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship (G1) back in February. He got a quick start in the 400-yard dash and then held 1-2 favorite Empressum safe by a nose. He made four 2023 starts with three wins and a second to Empressum in the $125,000 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Championship (G1).

Post Position: 10
Hooked N Gone, 3, g
PYC Paint Your Wagon-Pretty Girl Kate by Pretty Boy Perry
Owner: Regina Laymon
Breeder: Regina Laymon
Trainer: Eddie Willis
Jockey: Justine Klaiber

Hooked N Gone won the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trial at 14-1 odds to gain a presumptive berth in the Champion of Champions. He also won the $189,515 Remington Park Derby (RG1). He was second in the $268,750 Heritage Place Derby (G2) and third in the $1,199,686 All American Derby (G1).

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