LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 17, 2014—A contentious field is set for Sunday evening’s $71,640 Bank of America California Challenge at 440 yards, headed by Scatmandu and the Paul Jones-trained duo of Jess Featureme Quick and Forrest Fire.

Scatmandu is a 4-year-old son of thoroughbred Scat Daddy out of the First Down Dash mare Fodice who is owned and was bred by Gentry Farms with Juan Aleman training and Raul Valenzuela in the saddle.

Scatmandu has won four of his 17 starts with over $257,000 in his bank account. He ran second in last year's rich Los Alamitos Super Derby, which had purse of more than $900,000, just missing by a head to Matabari.

Trainer Paul Jones sends out a solid pair of runners in defending champion Jess Featureme Quick and Forrest Fire. Jess Featureme Quick is a Melissa Miller homebred by Feature Mr Jess and will have the services of Ramon Sanchez, while Forrest Fire races for Mimi Wells and will be guided by Eduardo Nicasio.

Jess Featureme Quick captured this event last season as he outdueled 2011 Champion of Champions runner-up Sparky Boy by half-length with a :21.323 clocking. He comes into this assignment with earnings of $562, 836

In one of the most exciting races of California Champions night, Forrest Fire rallied from fifth place to catch Separate Card and Thrifty in the final strides of the Sprint to take it by a nose. The 7-year-old son of Walk Thru Fire was picking up his ninth win in 46 career starts. He earned $11,000 for his effort to lift his career bankroll to $326,958.

This was the third stakes win of his career after previously winning the Katella Handicap and Whosleavingwho Handicap. He also has a slew of Grade 1 stakes racing experience, particularly during his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

“He’s a classy old guy,” Jones said. “He looked beat early on, but was flying at the end.”

“That was such an exciting race,” Wells said. “He’s my boy and I’m so excited to see him win.”

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com .