LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 6, 2009—Vanessa Bartoo's Double Down Special earned an automatic starting berth to the $750,000 Champion of Champions(G1) after winning the Grade 1 $1,548,076 All American Derby(G1) Sunday at Ruidoso Downs.

The victory places the world record holder Double Down Special heavily in the hunt for the 2010 world champion honors. Double Down Special, who earned $774,038, the all-time record winner's share for a quarter horse derby, joins reigning World Champion Freaky, Remington Park Championship(g1) winner Jess You And I, and Vessels Maturity(G1) winner Blues Man Too in this year’s field to the Champion of Champions(G1).

The Go Man Go Handicap(G1) will be run on Friday, September 10 and could feature Freaky, A Tempting Dash, Hulapai, Frankie Shoots and several other big name sprinters. If any horse with an automatic berth declines their spot in the Champion of Champions(G1), then the winner of the Go Man Go will step in and earn a starting berth. The next guaranteed berth to the Champion of Champions(G1) will be available on Saturday, September 18 with the running of the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap(G1) for fillies and mares.

In the Go Man Go, Freaky will make his first start since winning the Los Alamitos Winter Championship(G1) in February. He won last year’s Champion of Champions(G1) and is looking to become the first back-to-back winner of this race since SLM Big Daddy in 1997 and 1998.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com