As Moonflash, under jockey Nestor Duran, won the 54,978 AQHA Racing Championship Challenge Stakes (G3) on Friday at Retama Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

SELMA, TX—AUGUST 15, 2025—Multiple stakes winner As Moonflash delivered a commanding performance Saturday evening at Retama Park, taking the $54,978 AQHA Racing Championship Challenge Stakes (G3) for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards, and securing a coveted berth to the $350,000-est. AQHA Challenge Championship (G1) to be contested on October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque on AQHA Challenge Championship Night.

Breaking sharply under jockey Nestor Duran, As Moonflash surged to the lead early and widened her advantage late, crossing the wire 1¾ lengths clear in a swift 21.934 seconds over a fast track, earning a 103 speed index against a stiff 16-mph headwind.

Owned by Marisol Alvarado and trained by Heber Deyta-Melendez, the 4-year-old bay filly is by champion First Moonflash and out of As And Js by Apollitical Jess. She was bred in Oklahoma by Leonardo Alcala.

The victory was worth $30,788, boosting her career earnings to $112,529 and confirming her status among the Challenge program's top aged horses.

The winning connections of As Moonflash accept the AQHA Retama Park Championship Challenge stakes trophy on Friday. © Jack Coady Photography

Runner-up honors went to Relentless Eagle, a 4-year-old gelding by Hes Relentless and out of Volcoms Delight by Volcom, bred in Oklahoma by George P. Mitchell II.

 Owned by Lance Bland, trained by Marc Jungers, and ridden by Christian Ramos, Relentless Eagle showed speed from the inside post but could not hold off the powerful winner. A multiple graded stakes winner, he earned $12,645 to boost his earnings to $320,580.

A $100,000 purchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Relentless Eagle added more depth to his resume with a solid second-place effort. Last season he won four consecutive races at Lone Star Park including the coveted Texas Classic Derby(G1) and the Dash For Cash Derby(G2).

Third went to Tyger King, a 5-year-old stallion by Apollitical Jess and out of Cruzin The Wagon by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches LLC.

Ridden by Luis Vivanco for trainer Yasmine Medina and owner Tabasco Racing LLC, he finished 4-3/4 lengths behind the runner-up, good for $7,147 payday. Tyger King, an earner of $134,200 in 25 career starts, was a $150,000 purchase at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Jess Hylee Redeemed completed the field in fourth.

As Moonflash returned $3.00 to win. The $2 exacta (4-1) paid $3.20, the $2 daily double (1-4) returned $21.80, and the $0.50 Pick 3 (5-1-4) was worth $30.65.

With her emphatic victory, As Moonflash now sets her sights on Albuquerque, where she will represent Retama Park in the AQHA’s richest and most prestigious Challenge event this fall.

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