Multiple graded stakes winner A Famous Ribbon posted the fastest quallifyng time from two trials contested today for the $40,000-added AQHA Racing Emerald Downs Championship Challenge.

© Amber Mendez

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

AUBURN, WA—JULY 27, 2025—Two competitive 440-yard trials were held Sunday at Emerald Downs in Auburn, Washington, to determine the field for the $40,000-added AQHA Racing Emerald Downs Championship Challenge.

The final, set for Saturday, August 16, 2025, will feature the ten fastest qualifiers from the two trial heats for Challenge-enrolled Quarter Horses aged three and older.

Topping the list of qualifiers was A Famous Ribbon, a 6-year-old sorrel gelding by One Famous Eagle out of Fast Prize Ribbon, by Corona Cartel. Owned by Adrian Aleman and trained by Jorge Paredes, A Famous Ribbon posted the fastest qualifying time of 22.100 after breaking inward and brushing early but surging clear late to win by a head.

He was ridden by Minor Arana and bred in Texas by Weetona Stanley. Purchased at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale for $30,000, the consistent multiple graded stakes winner is poised for a strong showing in the final.

A well-traveled Challenge-enrolled horse, A Famous Ribbon, won the Los Alamitos Championship Challenge(G3) in 2024, the Grants Pass Championship Challenge in 2023, was second in the Remington Park Championship Challenge(G2) in 2024, and fourth in the AQHA Challenge Championship(G1) at Lone Star Park in 2023.

Also, the Grade 2 Sam Houston Classic winner, A Famous Ribbon, has won nine of 19 career starts and banked $201,871.

Second-fastest qualifier Shaundas Eagle, a 5-year-old gelding by One Fabulous Eagle out of First Prize Shaunda, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, put in a determined effort to finish just a neck behind her cousin A Famous Ribbon in their trial heat.

Weetona Stanley bred the bay gelding in Oklahoma. He is from the same female family as A Famous Ribbon, owned by Kent H. and Linda H. Jones, and trained by Daren K. Jones.

He stopped the clock in 22.120 under Sergio G. Dominguez and was also a Heritage Place Yearling graduate, purchased for $15,000.  Shaundas Eagle has won three times and earned $28,906.

Rounding out the top three qualifiers was Look James, a 5-year-old gelding by Ivory James out of Righteous Look, by Righteous Brother. Racing in owner Adrian Aleman's colors and trained by Jorge Paredes, Look James dug in gamely in the opening trial to win by a nose over Dc Ladys Dashn Eagle, completing his 440-yard trip in 22.250.

He was ridden by Minor Arana and bred in Utah by Carolyn & Jose Adrian Aleman.

The final field for the August 16 Championship Challenge will feature these three standouts alongside seven other swift qualifiers vying for the winner’s share of the $40,000-added purse. CLICK HERE for a list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The final promises to be a highly competitive event, with the winner earning a starting spot in the $350,000-est. AQHA Challenge Championship(G1) during the 2025 Racing Challenge Championships on October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Editor's note: A photo of the winner will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.

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