Challenge


Distance Challenge: A Rare Gem Looks To Make a Repeat in the Distance Challenge.
Rare Ed stretches his legs this week at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© AQHA / Andrea Caudill
Distance Challenge: A Rare Gem Looks To Make a Repeat in the Distance Challenge.

By Andrea Caudill

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—NOVEMBER 15, 2018—It is rare that a horse stays good long enough to not only win, but to return to defend his crown in the $100,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1).

This year, that horse is Rare Ed, who in 2016 took the Distance Challenge Championship (G1) at Los Alamitos, and last year was a valiant third in the Distance Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows. This weekend he returns for a third try at the race.

He is one of three horses in the Championships making his third appearance in the event, but is the only one of those three to be a past winner.

The 7-year-old gelding is owned by Jose Marin and Angel Villalobos of Laveen, Arizona. The Marin family got the horse in 2016, and Villalobos partnered on the horse last year.

Bred by Ronald Martin, Rare Ed is by Dean Miracle and out of the Corona Cartel mare Ms Corona Jet. The horse has won seven of 38 starts, with 17 additional placings, and has earnings of $128,102 in his career.

Rare Ed qualified for this event by winning the Turf Paradise Distance Challenge over Mickey Ward, Hes A Bugin and A Mere Icon.

The horse had tie-back surgery, which is a throat operation that helps the horse breathe clearly.

"He came out of it really well," said Jose's son, Martin. "He was fine, he came out of it really good."

Rare Ed has been settled at Los Alamitos for about six weeks, and is ready to run.

"He's a special horse," Martin said. "He just has a spunky attitude. He always has a 'let's go, let's go' attitude. When he knows it's getting close to race time, he chills out a little bit. But he's a really nice horse to be around."

The former claimer who found his niche in distance races will look to extend his legacy on Saturday night.

"We're looking forward to seeing what he can do," Martin said. "There are tough horses in there, but you never know. He's a tough horse himself. May the best horse win."

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