The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, November 6, 2007 – Freddie Martinez rode Strawkins to a dominating half-length victory Saturday night in the Grade-1, 440-yard headliner event of the 2007 Bank of America Racing Challenge Championships.
The Paul Jones-trained gelding overcame a bumpy start out of the tenth hole to finish in 21:393, edging out Let It Snowman, who also had to recover from early bumping. The Dona and Peggy Boyle-owned Strawkins (Hawkinson-Shirleys Strawfly by Strawfly Special) raised his career earnings past the half-million mark, to $544,156.
Poker Feature and Angelas Toast finished third and fourth.
Another favorite, Czech N Out Ashley, came through in the $200,000 Bayer Legend Derby Challenge Championship (G1) for 3-year-olds, winning by three-quarters of a length over long shot Sold On Special. Alex Bautista rode the Salvador Salazar-owned gelding 400 yards to a speed index of 92.
Snowy Alibi and Blues Six Gun rounded out the top four.
Paul Jones collected another of his four Racing Challenge wins Saturday when Three Green Leaves took the Ford Juvenile Challenge (G2) by half a length over Gomez Palacio. The filly by Tres Seis out of Sky Glow and owned by J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley ran her 350 yards in :17.458. She led the field of 2-year-olds the entire way and has won two of seven starts.
Winning jockey Cody Jensen was another success story, as this race was one of his three wins on the evening. Stoli Powered and JW A Royal Trip finished third and fourth.
The ironically-named Blazin Fire (This Snow Is Royal-Blazin Sin by Easy Crimson) came out of the California region to take the John Deere Distaff Challenge Championship (G1), her first Grade-1 win. The Paul Jones-Cody Jensen duo extended their awesome evening with a :19.571 wire-to-wire win over 400 yards. Good news for owners Dan and Lisa McMahon: that time was enough for a stakes record as well a win.
What A Performace, Ima Ramblin Girl and Toole N Round completed the superfecta.
The Grade-1 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship held the least amount of drama for most handicappers, as heavy favorite Snowbound Superstar topped runner-up Bad Act by 6 ½ lengths, winning in :44.231 over 870 yards. This victory was yet another pairing of trainer Paul Jones and jockey Cody Jensen.
The Tom and Brenda Brinkley-owned Snowbound Superstar (Snowbound (TB)-Shania Cash by Oh My Gee Whiz) pulled away well before the turn and was never challenged. The 4-year-old gelding has dominated for some time now, winning 10 of 13, including every 870-yard race he has ever entered.
Second-place Bad Act was followed by First To Ramble and Kaydena.
The new Fort Dodge Claiming Challenge Champion Eyesa Storm Too (Mr Eye Opener-Iam Ridiculous by Bully Bullion) finished strong in the 350-yard contest for horses that had been claimed for $5,000 or less in the past 12 months. G.R. Carter Jr. noted afterwards that this gelding has deservedly shed the title of claimer by winning some impressive races this season.
The time of :17.552 was good for a speed index of 92. The Joaquin Lopez-owned and Dan Francisco-trained 5-year-old beat out Dashin Design by three-quarters and was followed by Super Sixes and Mr Step Ahead.
One more big spender in the crowd would likely have meant a record-setting night at Los Alamitos Race Course as bettors wagered $2,375,988 Saturday, just $4,000 shy of the track record set on Challenge Championship night November 1, 2003.
AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal, The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal or America’s Horse, visit www.aqha.com/magazines.
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