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Scoops Dynasty Prevails in $287,875 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 18, 2025—Scoops Dynasty proved once again why he is among the elite older Quarter Horses in training with a determined victory in Sunday’s $287,875 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

The 6-year-old brown gelding completed the 440-yard distance in 21.137 seconds, posting a 98 speed index while battling a 5-mph headwind over a fast track.

Owned and bred in Idaho by Edward J. and Von ...


Mysterious Cartel Edges Whata Lota Boy in A Photo Finish to Capture $174,050 Adequan Derby Challenge
By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 19, 2025–A tight photo finish determined the outcome of Sunday's $174,050 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship-G3 at the Downs at Albuquerque, as Mysterious Cartel held off a hard-charging Whata Lota Boy to score his first career stakes victory.

The 400-yard final for three-year-olds produced a dramatic ending, with Mysterious Cartel prevailing by a neck in 19.389 seconds and earning a 95 speed index on the fast track. The upset victory paid $16.20 to win at 7-1 odds.

Ridden by Christian Cardenas and trained by David M. Gomez-Barraza, Mysterious Cartel is owned by Luis A. Gonzalez. The Texas-bred son of ...


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Raizen Kane Captures John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) at Albuquerque Downs
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 18, 2025—Raizen Kane (92-1) delivered a determined performance to surprise the $149,925 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) on Sunday at Albuquerque Downs.

Breaking sharply from the gate, the sorrel gelding dueled early before edging clear to win by a half-length in 17.365 seconds for 350 yards, earning a 93 speed index with a 3 mph tailwind over a fast track.

Trained by Jason Olmstead and ridden by Ramiro Garcia, the Texas-bred son of world champion sire One Famous Eagle out of Cartel Regards by Corona Cartel earned $68,966 for the victory.

Bred and owned by Bobby D. Cox, Raizen Kane was a $40,100 repurchase at the 2025 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. The two-time winner from five starts was second ...


Power Outage Forces Cancellation of Final Three AQHA Challenge Championship Races; Reset Sunday
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025—Track officials at The Downs at Albuquerque were forced to cancel the final three races of Saturday’s AQHA Challenge Championship card after a city-wide power outage plunged the track into darkness late in the program.

The affected races — the $287,875 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1), $174,050 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3), and $149,925 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) — have been rescheduled for Sunday, October 19, with first post set for 12:30 p.m. (MDT).

Saturday’s card featured 10 stakes events, including five undercard stakes and five ...


Alliekat Dynasty Prevails In Grade 1 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship
By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025–Alliekat Dynasty added another major title to her résumé Saturday night with a determined finish in the $125,800 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The 4-year-old sorrel filly stopped the clock in 19.206 ...


Handin Out Candy Captures $118,975 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship at Albuquerque
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 17, 2025—Showing early speed and strong staying power, Handin Out Candy proved much the best in Saturday’s Grade 1 $118,975 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship at Albuquerque Downs, covering the 870 yards in 44.496 seconds with a 102 speed index.

Ridden confidently by Omar Iturralde for owner Emilio Perez and trainer Paul Sedillo, the 6-year-old sorrel gelding broke sharply, took command early, and never looked back, crossing the wire two and one-quarter lengths in front under clear skies with a ...


Challenge Championships: The Field Contesting The Racing Challenge Championships Is A Salty Bunch

By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025–As is typical for each running of the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1), the field set to contest Saturday's edition at The Downs at Albuquerque is a salty bunch. This year among those who will face the starter are two reigning race champions and a recently crowned Supreme Race Horse, ...



Championship Night Lights Up Albuquerque Downs With Elite Fields And $265,000 Feature
By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025—All eyes in the Quarter Horse racing world will be on Albuquerque Downs this weekend, as the track hosts one of the most prestigious events on the calendar: Championship Night, headlined by the $265,000 Grade 1 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship. A star-studded ten-race card is on tap, with qualifiers and stakes winners from across the nation descending upon the New Mexico oval for a shot at glory.

Qualifiers have battled through regional Challenge events all year to earn their spots in these elite finals. The stakes are high, the fields are deep, and the sport’s top equine and human athletes are ready for the ...


Challenge Championships: First Famous Prize Knows About Consistency, Like Her Trainer Taught Her

By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025–Veteran trainer Buckey Stockwell of Camrose, Alberta, is set to saddle First Famous Prize in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) this coming Saturday, October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque ...



Challenge Championships: Wynnchester Is Making Sure Everybody Has Fun
Courtesy AQHA Racing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025–Wynnchester is pointing to Saturday's Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge (G1) with a deep support team behind him.

While he comes into the race off a rallying win in the $26,554 Q-Racing Video Will Rogers Distance Challenge in late September, which will likely garner him popularity with the betting public, his biggest group of supporters is likely ...



Challenge Championships: Flyin Summer and Shaundas Eagle are Representing Family Ties
Courtesy AQHA Racing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 15, 2025– Representing the Intermountain and West Coast in Saturday's John Deere Juvenile Challenge during the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque, Flyin Summer is also representing the power of family in the American Quarter Horse racing industry. The bay filly was bred by Darling Farms and ...