AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—OCTOBER 3, 2018—Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred He Looks Hot made his first appearance in this year’s AQHA Racing National Poll for older horses after defeating an outstanding field of horses in Sunday’s $125,000 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship (G1) in Southern California.

The 6-year-old Walk Thru Fire gelding came in at No. 5 in the latest rankings after his first stakes victory of 2018, although the California-bred is no stranger to the polls during a career that includes three other Grade 1 or Restricted Grade 1 wins. This latest victory earned him a berth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) on December 15 at Los Alamitos.

Also of note in the older-horse poll, the idle Hotstepper moved up to No. 2 after former No. 2 BH Lisas Boy slipped one spot following his eighth-place finish behind He Looks Hot. Hotstepper, winner of the All American Derby (G1) on September 2 at Ruidoso Downs, is entered this Friday night in the trials for the Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

Two-time defending world champion Jessies First Down continues to top the older-horse poll.

There were no changes in the 2-year-old poll, but No. 1-ranked Apocalyptical Jess is entered in Saturday’s trials for the Texas Classic Futurity (G1) at Lone Star. This will mark the first start for the Apollitical Jess gelding since winning the $3 million All American Futurity (G1) on Labor Day at Ruidoso. The Blane Wood trainee is set to run in the ninth of 14 heats. No. 4-ranked Blue Corazon, winner of the Ruidoso Futurity (G1) and a Blane Wood trainee, and No. 8-ranked Long Wagon Ho, winner of the Oklahoma Futurity (G3) at Remington Park, are also entered in the Texas Classic trials.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OLDER

1. JESSIES FIRST DOWN (90)
2. HOTSTEPPER (77)
3. BH LISAS BOY (68)
4. BODACIOUS EAGLE (54)
5 HE LOOKS HOT (51)
6. HOLD AIR HOSTAGE (42)
7. (tie) TARZANITO (38)
7. (tie) ZOOMIN FOR SPUDS (38)
9. HEZA DASHA FIRE (30)
10. JESS MOVE YOU (20)

FLY BABY FLY (8), KVN CORONA (7), SF HOT PASS (7), JESS RAVIN (6), BRUCE ALLMTY (4), EOS A POLITICAL WIN (4), JESSTACARTEL (4), BELIEVE ME IRENE (1), DF AJ GREEN LEAVES (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

1. APOCALYPTICAL JESS (100)
2. MM FOURINTHEMORNING (85)
3. WAVE HER DOWN (71)
4. BLUE CORAZON (65)
5. IM JESS SPECIAL V (46)
6. SUZE RETURNS (41)
7. LYNNDER 16 (34)
8. LONG WAGON HO (25)
9. WICKED AFFAIR (22)
10. PAINT ME A SINNER (16)

COLE MAN 47 (10), DANJER (8), JESS FIRE CHICK (7), POWERFUL FAVORITE (6), AQUA FLASH (4), EAGLE COAST (4), ZEE JAMES (3), MR COAHUILA (2), MPSHINNING (1)

The integrity of American Quarter Horse racing is of utmost importance to AQHA. As part of a multifaceted effort to ensure integrity, AQHA has instituted a policy concerning awards and publicity that makes horses with racing medication positives and horses trained by trainers with racing medication positives ineligible for the AQHA Racing National Polls. CLICK HERE to read the complete policy.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

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 aqha.com/racing.