Racing


Pattys Saint Gets First Graded Win In Grade 1 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship
Pattys Saint, under jockey Jesus Virgen, winning Saturday's 400-yard, $106,500 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.



© Coady Photography

Pattys Saint Gets First Graded Win In Grade 1 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship

Q-RACING—OCTOBER 23, 2021—Sent to post at odds of 5-1 in a full field of 10 fillies and mares, Pattys Saint earned her first graded stakes victory in Saturday's 400-yard, $106,500 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Pattys Saint defeated 18-1 longshot Tempting Knockout by 1 1/2 lengths in :19.155. Jesus Virgen rode the homebred sophomore Jess Got Easier filly for owner Robert L. Harrison and trainer Heath Hillman.

AQHA Past President Butch Wise presents the winning connections of Pattys Saint the Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship trophy Saturday night at The Downs at Albuquerque. © Coady Photography
Pattys Saint was bred in Idaho, and she was making her first career start in New Mexico. The filly was also scoring her third consecutive win; her current streak includes victories in the August 1, 300-yard Oneida County Fair Derby at Malad, Idaho, and the September 25, 400-yard Q-Racing Video Pocatello Downs Distaff Challenge.

All told, Pattys Saint has won nine of 13 races -- including three of four at the 400-yard trip -- and the $48,990 winner's share of the purse from her sixth career stakes victory pushed her bankroll to $118,001, of which $89,046 has been earned from seven outs this season.

Tempting Knockout picked up $21,300 for her second-place effort. Toby Keeton trains the daughter of champion sire Tempting Dash for owner-breeders P & J Racing, Ltd. Juan Pulido rode the Texas-bred out of Passem Up Perry by Mr Jess Perry. The stakes winning 3-year-old filly has earned $89,820.

L Hendrix Horses LLC's A Pollitical Gal finished a nose back to earn $10,650 for third. Clinton Crawford saddled the 3-year-old Apollitical Jess filly out of A Southern Gal by Corona Cartel. Ridden by A Pollitical Gal, the Oklahoma-bred has banked $77,928 in nine career starts. Carl and Luanne Humphries is the breeder.

Defending Distaff Champion Lynnder 16, the 11-10 favorite finished fourth.

Apollitical Mogul, Dark Moon, FDD Swingin Dynasty, No One Fights Alone, El Oh El, and Sinsational Tacha completed the field.

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Look for complete coverage of the Bank of America Challenge Championships at AQHA's website and on racing social media.