News


Polls Tighten After Major Weekend
Bon Accord held on to his No. 1 ranking in this week's AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Poll, desipite finishing third in Saturday's Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1).

© Dustin Orona Photography
Polls Tighten After Major Weekend

AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—OCTOBER 22, 2014 —Bon Accord, despite finishing third in Saturday's Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1), managed to hold on to his No. 1 ranking in this week's AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Poll. Bon Accord's 17-point margin a week ago over No. 2-rated Moonist has whittled to just four points, 98-94.

But a flurry of top performances among the older horses has breathed new life into the poll, as championship hopefuls march through October.

Previously unranked A Toss Up and Last To Fire both earned their way into the poll by knocking off the 6-5 favorite and top-ranked Bon Accord at Los Al. The Eddie Willis-trained A Toss Up moved all the way to No. 5, while Last To Fire appears to be rounding back into 2013 championship form and rose to No. 10. The poll for 3-year-olds and older also welcomed newcomer Stimulus at No. 6, fresh off his victory in Saturday's Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) at Prairie Meadows.

While there were no changes in order in the top 10 juvenile rankings this week in the AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com Poll, debate has been as contentious as it’s been in the poll's recent history. Ruidoso Futurity (G1) winner Kiss My Hocks holds a 98-92 edge over All American Futurity (G1) winner JM Miracle, while Heza Dasha Fire has crept closer to the top with 91 points. After setting the fastest qualifying time for the Golden State Futurity (G1) on Sunday at Los Alamitos, Heza Dasha Fire could make a claim for the top spot in the $1 million final on November 2.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

  1. KISS MY HOCKS (98)
  2. JM MIRACLE (92)
  3. HEZA DASHA FIRE (91)
  4. TRENDI (79)
  5. LOVETHEWAYYOULIE (57)
  6. MAD ABOUT THE MOON (49)
  7. BF FARM BOSS (31)
  8. RATTLE N BATTLE (26)
  9. PAINT ME PERRY (25)
  10. OLD GIRL (15)

Sam Crow (12), AJs High (6), Bodacious Eagle (5), Apollitical Blood (5), Takiana Romanova B (5), Hezadashinbye (5), BV Travelin Soldier (3), Eagle On The Fly (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS

  1. BON ACCORD (98)
  2. MOONIST (94)
  3. TOO FLASH FOR YOU (81)
  4. HOUDINI (65)
  5. A TOSS UP (64)
  6. STIMULUS (45)
  7. FAR NIENTE (28)
  8. NELLIE DELANEY (25)
  9. FIVE BAR CARTEL (24)
  10. LAST TO FIRE (20)

DM Streakn Thru Fire (15), Viva Mi Corazon (10), Rock You (10), Significant Heart (8), Llano Cartel (5), One Valiant Hero (3), Feature Mr Who (3), JRC Callas First (3), TF Featured Effort (2), Dashin For A Prize (1).

The 11 voters are:
Ed Burgart (Los Alamitos announcer/handicapper), Martha Claussen (Q-Racing Ace, writer/handicapper), Mike Cusortelli (writer/handicapper), Tom Dawson (Q-Racing Ace, network television producer), Dale Day (Remington Park announcer/handicapper), Ben Hudson (TRACK Magazine Owner/Publisher), Mike Joyce (TVG analyst), Jeremy Plonk (Night School co-founder/host), Jerry Shottenkirk (Horseplayernow.com, handicapper/oddsmaker), Terry Turrell (Horseplayernow.com handicapper) and Ty Wyant (writer, Daily Racing Form and AQHA).

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.