A Tres Of Eagle, under Francisco Calderon, wins the $260,751 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Remington Park

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 21, 2023–Bella Vista Farms' A Tres Of Eagle broke sharply from his rail post and sprinted to a half-length victory in Saturday's Grade 1, $260,751 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park.

Saddled by Eddie Lee Willis and making his first-ever start at Lone Star Park, A Tres Of Eagle covered 440 yards in :21.665. Francisco Calderon rode the 4-year-old One Fabulous Eagle gelding, who banked $123,963 from his third graded stakes score.

A Tres Of Eagle was purchased by Bella Vista Farms for $40,000 at the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The bay gelding was bred in Oklahoma by The Mixer Ranch, and he is out of A Tres Of Paint, a 10-year-old daughter of champion Tres Seis and winner of the 2016 Remington Park Derby (RG3) in her final career start. 

His second dam, the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare First Painted Sign, won two graded stakes during her 2-year-old campaign, including the 2010 Oklahoma Futurity (G2) at Remington Park.

The winning connections of A Tres Of Eagle accept the Bank Of America Challenge Championship trophy at Lone Star Park.
© Dustin Orona Photography

A Tres Of Eagle was coming off of a fifth-place finish, 3 1/4 lengths behind winner KJ Desparado, in the September 4, 440-yard All American Gold Cup (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. Earlier this season, he scored victories in the 350-yard, $68,000 Mr Jet Moore Stakes (RG2) and 400-yard, $100,000 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes (RG1), both for Oklahoma-breds at Remington Park. All told, he has won five of 17 starts while racing in four states, and he has earned $348,704, of which $298,187 has been banked from seven races this season. The gelding's two wins in eight outs at the classic 440-yard distance includes the July 22, $49,000 Bank of America Arapahoe Championship Challenge, a victory which qualified him for this stakes.

Apollitical Redflash, ridden by Jorge Torres, took lead right out of the gates but fell to second at the final stretch to cross the wire. Prepped by Clint Crawford, the son of leading sire Apollitical Jess has four career wins with $290,547 in earnings. The 13-time stakes finalist has yet to score a stakes victory.

Breeder Rancho El Cabresto sold Apollitical Redflash to his current owners Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC for $100,000 in the 2019 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The five-year-old California-bred gelding is out of Chalala by Chicks Beduino Jr.

One Fabulous Boy closed in late for show under the guidance of Angel Ramirez. Trained by Edward Ross Hardy, the son of One Fabulous Eagle has lit the board nine of 13 starts with six wins and $129,951 in the bank, including the Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge Stakes[G2] in August.

Owner Paul Wolfe bred One Fabulous Boy in partnership with Diane Wolfe in Oklahoma. The four-year-old gelding is out of Check Out Kaelie by Check Him Out.

A Famous Ribbon, Nothin Like You, Apolinaria Prize, Indeed, Dm Moonpie and Df Storm Tales complete the field.

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