Q-RACING JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 1, 2011— The Bank of America Challenge Championships night on October 29 delivered what it promised, with a full card of 12 exciting races filled, from top to bottom, with world-class horses and world-class performances.

Leading Southern California track Los Alamitos hosted the event for the ninth time since 1993. Total purses for the races were worth $1.1 million. Handle for the 12-race card was $1,575,023, up 45 percent from the previous year. Attendance at the races was also up from 2009 figures (the most recent available), with 3,383 at the track.

“The horsemen, race track officials and myself were extremely pleased with this very successful Challenge Championship night of racing,” said AQHA’s Director of Racing Challenge Darrell Hare. “We want to thank our sponsors, horsemen and Los Alamitos for a great night of racing.”

The races were evenly matched, and the six championship races saw winners who this year competed in Alberta, Arizona, California, Idaho, Illinois, Iowa, New Mexico and Washington.

Favorite Cartel won the richest race of the night, the $353,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), prevailing by a neck over favorite Rylees Boy. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Favorite Cartel went the 440 yards in :21.501 and earned $161,000. Favorite Cartel was trained by Paul Jones, who bred the horse in partnership with Terry Thompson. The 4-year-old son of Favorite Trick (TB) raced for his breeders and partners R.D. Hubbard and Jim Helzer.

Favorite Cartel, who has now won or placed in 15 of 23 starts and earned $583,069, will head next to the $750, 000 Champion of Champions (G1) on December 10. There, he will race for a new ownership including Jones, Thompson and Dr. Steve Burns.

Other big winners for the night included:

• Manny Silva’s homebred T Gold J finished strong to win the $200,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G1).

• Alvin Jonas’ Sheza Bad Habit was a neck the best in the $125,000 Merial Distaff Challenge Championship (G1).

• Yin Your Eyes, owned by Rene Laatch, dug in and nosed out a win in the $125,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship (G1).

• Nothing could separate Dean Frey’s Shez Jess Toxic and David and Ross Hinkins’ Illegal Smile, who deadheated in the $150,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G1).

• Edilberto Estrada’s Ocean Fun came home first in the $75,000 Pfizer Starter Allowance Challenge Championship.

The Bank of America Racing Challenge is the richest and most successful program in American Quarter Horse racing today, a championship series developed for the “World’s Fastest Horse.” The Bank of America Racing Challenge program provides more racing opportunities and larger purses for older American Quarter Horses than any other program throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America.

In addition to Los Alamitos, the other tracks that have served as hosts are Sunland Park, Turf Paradise, Retama Park, Sam Houston Race Park, Evangeline Downs, Lone Star Park and Fair Grounds.

Bank of America is a proud sponsor of the Bank of America® Racing Challenge Championships. AQHA members can take advantage of exclusive checking and savings accounts, lines of credit and credit cards. Show your passion for horses and click here for more information or to open an account.

AQHA news and information is a service of AQHA publications. For more information on The American Quarter Horse Journal or America’s Horse, visit AQHA Publications.