September 29-October 5 Stakes Recap

Following is a recap of all official American Quarter Horse stakes and trials for the week of September 29-October 5. For recaps of most graded stakes, AQHA Racing Challenge stakes and trials, and most stakes with purses of $100,000 or more, see the individual recaps in the Racing News section. This page will be updated throughout the week.

Century Downs
Jerry Stojan’s Flight Club added to his impressive win total on Saturday as the 7-year-old Foose gelding recorded his 19th career victory in the $21,000 (CAD) CTD Distance Stakes. With Alexander Marti up for trainer William Leech, the California-bred gelding won the 770-yard race by a length as the 3-10 favorite and posted a 95 speed index for his clocking of :40.668.

Flight Club has won three of six starts this year with two thirds, and his career record stands at 31-19-3-4 with earnings of $222,472. A proven distance runner, Flight Club also excels on the straightaway. Last year he won the 440-yard AQHA Racing Century Mile Challenge Championship and went on to compete in the $277,975 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque. 

Montana-bred Uncommon Soldier, a son of Favorite Soldier, finished second for breeder, owner and trainer Clifton Dennis. Willie Lump Lump, a Big Lew gelding running for Isaak Fehr, took third. 

Evangeline Downs
Tuckers Prize got up to win Saturday’s $20,000 EVD Dash Stakes going 250 yards. Ubaldo Luna rode the Fast Prize Dash gelding for owner and trainer Preston Jourdan and clocked the distance in :13.222 for a 97 speed index.

Bred in Louisiana by Kirby and Phillip Brunchhaus, Tuckers Prize was winning for the 20th time in his long career. The now 9-year-old broke his maiden at first asking back in May 2018 in a $5,000 maiden claiming race at Delta Downs. He quickly moved up the class ladder and has been a consistent allowance and stakes performer since then. His career record stands at 59-20-14-8 with earnings of $418,190.

Venus TLC, a mare by The Louisiana Cartel running for breeders and owners Jorge Haddad and Jorge Haddad Mestre, finished second and has now hit the board in four stakes this year. India De La Nieve, a daughter of BP Wagon Train, took third for owner Rene Adan Rodriguez. 

Grants Pass Downs
Trainer Hector Magallanes and jockey Mark Jasso won both of Monday’s trials for the $40,000-estimated Autumn Derby with the two fastest qualifiers. 

Cedar Creek Tree Farm Ranch and Racing’s homebred CCR Political Wrap won the second heat with the top time of :19.799 for a 96 speed index at 400 yards. The Oregon-bred filly by Apollitical Jess is undefeated in four starts this year after picking up three allowance victories prior to this trial win. The filly also won her final start of last year against allowance foes at Los Alamitos. She has a lifetime record of 13-6-3-3 with earnings of $37,393.

The first heat went to Ismael Villareal’s homebred Mr Royal Cartel, an Oregon-bred gelding by The Cartel Hawk who clocked the distance in :19.929. Mr Royal Cartel won last year’s $80,000 Far West Futurity at Grants Pass Downs. 

The full list of qualifiers for the October 13 final is as follows: CCR Political Wrap (:19.799), Mr Royal Cartel (:19.929), Tonny Montana (:20.011), Secretarysbestcard (:20.035), Bee A Tempting Queen (:20.164), Mr Steve Berry (:20.194), Soy Catalina (:20.206), Riding The Wind (:20.227), TF One Dashn Lajolla (:20.342) and Mighty Panama T (:20.415). 

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on X and on Instagram, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.