Scoops Dynasty, under jockey Jacob Enriquez, won the $287,875 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs Sunday.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 18, 2025—Scoops Dynasty proved once again why he is among the elite older Quarter Horses in training with a determined victory in Sunday’s $287,875 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

The 6-year-old brown gelding completed the 440-yard distance in 21.137 seconds, posting a 98 speed index while battling a 5-mph headwind over a fast track.

Owned and bred in Idaho by Edward J. and Von Zae McNelis, Scoops Dynasty is trained by Diego Cervantes and was ridden to victory by jockey Jacob Enriquez.

The son of five-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Bye Sweet Girl, by Dashin Bye, tracked the leaders early before rallying strongly in the final yards to take command and draw clear by three-quarters of a length at the wire.

Ten-time AQHA Racing Champion Jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. presents the AQHA Challenge Championship trophy to Ed McNelis and the winning connections of Scoops Dynasty at Albuquerque Downs Sunday. © Coady Media

The veteran gelding earned $135,301 for the win, adding boosting his impressive career bankroll to $810,562 and further solidifying his reputation as a top-level competitor in Challenge events nationwide.

This was the 11th career win in 30 starts for the gelding. Winner of his last three starts,  Scoops Dynasty entered the Challenge Championship off a win in the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap. His next start could be the Grade 1 $700.000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos Race Course in December.

Runner-up honors went to Js On Fire, a 4-year-old colt by champion sire Hes Relentless out of As And Js, by Apollitical Jess. Bred in Oklahoma by Rancho El Cabresto Inc., Js On Fire is owned by Joshua Owens, trained by Michael Joiner, and was ridden by Bryan Candanosa.

A $105,000 purchase at the 2022 Ruidoso Yearling Sale, the colt put in a late rally but could not catch the winner, earning $57,575 for the effort. A six-time winner in 17 starts, he has earned $297,508. Earlier this year, he won the AQHA Remington Park Championship Challenge (G2) and the Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes(G2).

Hooked N Gone, a 5-year-old gelding by leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon out of Pretty Girl Kate, by Pretty Boy Perry, held gamely for third after dueling early on before being overtaken late. Bred and owned by Regina Laymon of Oklahoma, Hooked N Gone is trained by Dean Frey and was ridden by Jesus Ayala.

The consistent gelding earned $28,788 for his performance, finishing a half-length behind the runner-up and a head in front of the fourth-place finisher. The multiple graded stakes winner has won eight of 29 starts and earned $820,019.

Pari-mutuel payoffs were $7.40 to win, $3.80 to place, and $5.40 to show on Scoops Dynasty; $3.00 to place and $3.80 to show on Js On Fire; and $7.00 to show on Hooked N Gone.

Following the top three were Shaundas Eagle, Relentless Eagle, Nothin Like You, O Seeyalater, Radar, and Mystic Paint in that order.

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