ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 14, 2019—Getting his first win in more than a year, Three Olives N Smoke (9-1) broke well then held to defeat Damn Strait by three-quarters in the Grade 2 $60,682 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge on Saturday.

Ridden by jockey Ramiro Garcia, Three Olives N Smoke complete the 440 yards on a muddy (sealed) racetrack in :21.478 seconds, equaling a 106 speed index. It was the ninth career win for the multiple stakes winning son of leading sire Jess Louisiana Blue.

John D. Hammes trains the 6-year-old Colorado-bred gelding for owner's Margo Schares and Brad Thomas. Bred by Schares, from the Corona Cartel mare Smokin Corona, Three Olives N Smoke picked up $28,521 to boost his earnings total to $255,151.

As a 2-year-old Three Olives N Smoke won five of six starts including the Rocky Mountain Futurity and the Cherry Creek Futurity.

Today's victory also earns the bay gelding a starting spot in the $300,000-est. Bank of America Championship Challenge(G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque, as the feature race on the Bank of America Challenge Championships card October 26th.

Runner-up Damn Strait, a Texas bred son of multiple stakes sire Dominyun, finished second for the third consecutive time this season for owner M.C. Stucks and trainer Stacy Charette-Hill. Jorge Torres rode the multiple stakes-placed 5-year-old bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox. Out of the Jody O Toole mare, Hottesticketintown, Damn Strait has earnings of $155,221.

Coming off a win in the Cash Caravan Stakes, Pyc Jess Bite Mydust finished a nose back to pick up $6,068 for third. The son of leading sire Apollitical Jess already earned a starting spot in the Bank of America Championship Challenge(G1) on October 26th after a win in the Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge on July 7.

Jason Olmstead conditions the Minnesota homebred, out of Paint Or More by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, for Lunderborg, LLC. The 5-year-old has compiled a (24) 7-6-6 record and earned $253,599.

Completing the Bank of America field were Faster Than Hasta, Paint My Pilot, Another Shot, Political Candy and Dynasty Ice 123. Marfilmio was scratched.

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About Prairie Meadows
Prairie Meadows began operations as a nonprofit organization in 1989 with the goal of promoting economic development, jobs, agriculture, and tourism in the state of Iowa. Through taxes, grants, and charitable donations, Prairie Meadows has given more than $1.8 billion to the state of Iowa. Prairie Meadows offers more than 1,700 slot machines, table games, live and simulcast racing, hotel accommodations, entertainment, and more.