Alliekat Dynasty, under jockey Roman Cruz, surges late to win the Grade 1 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship on Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025–Alliekat Dynasty added another major title to her résumé Saturday night with a determined finish in the $125,800 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The 4-year-old sorrel filly stopped the clock in 19.206 seconds on a fast track, earning a 99 speed index under jockey Roman Cruz. Trained by James Gonzales III for Arrowhead Racing (Anita Ruiz), Alliekat Dynasty broke awkwardly but recovered to surge past rivals late, defeating Cowgurl Up by a neck.

The daughter of FDD Dynasty picked up $59,126 for the victory, bringing her total bankroll to $396,586 from 18 starts, with 11 wins, 2 seconds, and 2 thirds. Alliekat Dynasty entered the race as the favorite, paying $4.80 to win on 2-5 odds.

The winning connections of Allikat Dynasty accept the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship-G1 trophy at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday. © Coady Media

Bred in Oklahoma by Jahree Standridge, Alliekat Dynasty is out of Pollitical Scorpion by Apollitical Jess. The six-time stakes winner has performed a standout season, capturing the Easy Date Stakes (G2) and Will Rogers Downs Distaff Challenge (G3) earlier this year while finishing second in the Junos Request Stakes (G1).

Cowgurl Up, the consistent sorrel filly by Flying Cowboy 123, gave a valiant performance to finish second under Oscar Andrade, Jr. for trainer Carlos Lopez and owner-breeder P & J Racing Ltd. The Texas-bred mare out of Passem Up Perry by Mr Jess Perry was a $95,000 purchase from the 2022 TQHA Yearling Sale.

From 11 starts, she now has 5 wins, 1 second, and 2 thirds with earnings of $118,000. Cowgurl Up entered the championship on a roll after consecutive victories in the Lone Star Distaff Challenge Stakes and Miss Retama Stakes, following a third-place finish in the Sam Houston 250 Stakes earlier in the season.

Third-place finisher Paige, a 5-year-old sorrel mare by Tempting Dash, was ridden by Jacob Enriquez for trainer Clinton Crawford and owner CNN Breeding. Bred in Oklahoma by Carol S. Smith, Paige is out of Transaxle by Mr Jess Perry and was a $38,000 purchase from the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

She has now made 28 starts, with 6 wins, 4 seconds, and 3 thirds, earning $267,472. Paige entered off back-to-back graded stakes victories in the Balloon City Stakes (G2) and Ruidoso Downs Distaff Challenge (G3) and previously finished third in the Easy Date Stakes (G2) and was a finalist in the Decketta Stakes (G2) at Remington Park earlier this season.

The remaining order of finish is Flying Sophia, Jr Sakes Alive, Kelli Girl, Amber Alerrt, Foxy Cowgirl, and Sendmecandyandarose.

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