Prairie Meadows will host two AQHA Challenge races on Sunday's race card.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Louanne Wainscott/Stallionesearch

ATLOONA, IA–AUGUST 15, 2025–The feature attractions on Prairie Meadows’ Sunday, August 17 card are the $57,575 added Iowa Stallion Derby in race one (see preview article) and the $48,807 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge Stakes in race two and the (G2) $54,510 AQHA Racing Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge Stakes in race four.

Both winners will secure berths in their respective divisions for the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championship finals on October 18, 2025, at Albuquerque Downs. Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge Stakes

Race two will feature ten AQHA Racing Challenge Enrolled three-year-olds going 400 yards, each having qualified through the July 31 trials.

Fastest qualifier and 3-1 morning line favorite Catchn Southern Rays enters off a decisive 1½-length trial victory. The filly’s résumé includes qualifying for the Heritage Place Juvenile Stakes (runner-up), the (G3) Valley Junction Futurity, and a Black Gold Fillies Futurity victory. In her 2025 campaign, she also qualified for the (G2) Heritage Oaks.

Bred in Oklahoma by owner Leann J. Burns, Catchn Southern Rays is sired by Apollitical Jess out of Mary Paintyourwagon by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. She has earned $239,008 under the conditioning of Stacy Charette-Hill and will break from post five with regular rider Cristian R. Esqueda aboard.

The 7-2 second choice The Criminal posted the second-fastest qualifying time. The Apollitical Jess gelding, out of Ms Riptide by Ocean Runaway, was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms and purchased for $50,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. With $61,252 in earnings and eight in-the-money finishes, he is trained by Jason L. Olmstead and will start from post seven under Armando Alvidrez.

The ten qualifiers are set for a competitive dash, with the winner punching their ticket to Championship Day in Albuquerque.

AQHA Racing Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge(G2) Stakes

The fourth race on the card, set for approximately 5:15 p.m., will feature nine older horses contesting 440 yards in the (G2) $54,510 AQHA Racing Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge Stakes.

Leading the field is 5-2 favorite Hooked N Gone, fresh off his victory in the (G1) $250,000 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes. The five-year-old gelding has hit the board 19 times, winning seven races and amassing $786,823 in earnings for breeder/owner Regina Laymon. Sired by Pyc Paint Your Wagon out of Pretty Girl Kay by Pretty Boy Perry, he is trained by Dean Frey and will start from post five under jockey Jesus R. Ayala.

The main threat comes from 3-1 contender Mystic Paint, winner of the (G3) $50,000 Keokuk Stakes. The six-time winner has earned $316,636 and was purchased for $43,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by owner William F. Harned. Bred by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses, LLC, the Pyc Paint Your Wagon colt is out of Jess So Sixy by Mr Jess Perry. Jason L. Olmstead trains, with Ramiro H. Garcia aboard from post two.

With championship berths on the line, the Derby and Championship Challenge promise high-intensity performances on Sunday’s card.

The Canterbury Park Races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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