Flash Bak is the leading earner of the newest Dam of Distinction, Checknbac.

© Amber Mendez

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—NOVEMBER 13, 2023–The mare Checknbac has earned the honor of being named an AQHA Dam of Distinction.

The award recognizes the accomplishments of racing broodmares. To qualify for the award, a mare must meet one or more of the following criteria:

• Dams that produced two or more individual AQHA
   racing champions.
• Dams that produced at least three individual Grade 1
   stakes winners.
• Dams that produced at least two foals ranked in the
   top 10 money earners of any particular year, as of
   December 31 of that year, and two Grade 1 stakes winners.
• Dams that produced at least three foals that were in the
   top 10 money earners of any particular year, as of
   December 31 of that year.

When the award was created, a grandfather clause also allowed mares that had produced at least three individual stakes winners prior to 1983, and those wins were the equivalent of a Grade 1-quality race, to be accepted.

Checknbac is a 2004 sorrel mare sired by Check Him Out and out of the Splash Bac mare Running Bac.

Bred by J. Francisco Diaz of Chula Vista, California, she is co-owned by Jim Streelman and Bill Dale of Clinton, Missouri.

An accomplished racehorse in her own right, Checknbac won seven of 13 starts and earned $216,410 in her career. Among the highlights of her career is a victory in the 2006 Governor’s Cup Futurity (RG1) and 2007 La Pacifica Handicap, as well as a third-place finish in the 2006 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity (RG1).

She has to date produced 11 performers from 13 registered foals that have earned $2,552,760.

Leading them is Flash Bak, a 2018 gelding by Moonin The Eagle, who has earned $1,442,657 in a career that includes multiple Grade 1 wins. The most recent of those came in the October 15, Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship, but also includes the 2022 Zia Park Championship, 2021 Los Alamitos Super Derby and 2021 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

She has also produced 2023 All American Derby (G1) winner Whiskey Creek (by Apollitical Jess), an earner of $525,426; 2017 Refrigerator Handicap (G1) winner Cobalt Creek (by Walk Thru Fire), an earner of $324,899; and Grade 1 runner Hes Back (by Hes Relentless), an earner of $130,440.

The accomplishment will be recognized at the AQHA Champions Announcements at Heritage Place Sale Co. on January 17, 2024.

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