AQHA/Bank of America Racing Challenge Archives


By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch HOUSTON, TX–MAY 17, 2025–In a thrilling conclusion, Jessesflyincowgirl, the post-time favorite, narrowly defeated Party On The Moon to clinch the $65,450 Adequan Sam Houston Challenge Derby by a neck Saturday afternoon at Sam Houston Race Park.

Jockey Christian ...



By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 17, 2025–In an impressive season opener, Grade 1 winner The Grand Legend showcased his talent by defeating a field of six in the $37,774 Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. Jockey Noe Villatoro guided the 6-year-old son of FDD Going Grand to a commanding six-length victory, marking the 17th ...



LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 16, 2025–Reliance Ranches' Holmybeeranwatchthis will look to improve his record to a perfect four for four in 2025 after being supplemented to run in the $44,880 Adequan California Derby Challenge on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

Nine ...



By Martha Claussen

HOUSTON, TX–MAY 13, 2025–Quarter Horse racing fans are in for a treat on Saturday, May 17 at ...



By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch.com

HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 26, 2025–Sixty-four juveniles participated in seven trials for the Sam Houston John Deere Juvenile Challenge on Saturday, competing for one of ten spots in the $121,082 Grade 3 finals scheduled for May 17. Full Moon Desire emerged victorious in her maiden debut during the second trial of the evening, achieving the fastest qualifying time.

Piloted by Victor Urieta Jr., Full Moon Desire had a quick start, taking the lead at the first call and crossing the finish line 2 ...



By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch.com HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 25, 2025–Stablemates Rockin The Train and Kick Seis claimed two of three trials for the Adequan Sam Houston Derby on Friday to post the first and third fastest qualifying times, respectively, for owner Deborah Gotovac and trainer Bradley Bolen.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 23, 2025–Sixty-four 2-year-olds are entered in seven John Deere Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) trials Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. Holms, a sorrel son of world champion ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 21, 2025–Twenty-four 3-year-olds, led by Debra Gotovac's Party On The Moon, are entered in Friday's 400-yard Adequan Sam Houston Derby Challenge trials at Sam Houston Race Park. A $28,000 yearling purchase at the 2023 New Mexico-Bred Sale at Ruidoso Downs, Party On The Moon has won his ...



PHOENIX, AZ—APRIL 15, 2025—The Championship Challenge returned to Turf Paradise this year with graded stakes winner Scoops Dynasty putting in a game effort to defeat all-time leading money earner Kj Desparado in the $53,014 AQHA Turf Paradise Championship Challenge today.

Jockey Jacob Enriquez used a quick start from the gate to take a half-length lead, then held off two-time champion Kj Desparado by a nose. Scoops Dynasty completed the ...



OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—APRIL 6, 2025—Starting off a second-place effort in the 550-yard Grade 2 SLM Big Daddy Stakes last month, trainer Michael Joiner shortened Js On Fire to the classic Quarter Horse Distance on Sunday at Remington Park.

The move worked beautifully as Js On Fire dueled early and then finished strongest late under jockey Bryan Candanosa to defeat One Stolin Eagle by half-a-length in the $68,535 AQHA Remington Park Championship Challenge(G2).

"In regards to the SLM ...



OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 6, 2025Distance powerhouse O Donovan Rossa, pulled off his first win of the season as 2-1 favorite in the $35,156 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Stakes [G2] for the second year in a row at Remington Park on Sunday.

Jockey Roman Cruz got the call aboard O Donovan Rossa for his gate-to-wire victory. The seven-year-old gelding clocked a 99 speed index in 45.069 seconds in a duel for the win with Invincible Streak and Wynnchester who both rallied for the wire. Favored to win, the ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 5, 2025–Two graded stakes from the AQHA Racing Challenge program, previously scheduled last week but canceled due to weather, headline Sunday's 12-race program at Remington Park.

Eight aged runners are entered in Sunday's 440-yard, $68,535 AQHA Remington Championship Challenge (G2). The winner of this race will earn a berth in the October 18 AQHA Challenge Championship (G1) at ...



AMARILLO, TX–APRIL 4, 2025– In 2025, the AQHA Racing Challenge offers regional stakes in the following divisions:

> AQHA Racing Championship Challenge division: 440 yards,    3-year-olds and up > Adequan® Derby division: 400 yards, 3-year-olds > John Deere Juvenile Challenge: 350 yards, 2-year-olds > Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge: ...




OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 29, 2025–Remington Park management postponed the last races on the 12-race card Saturday night – the Grade 2, $35,156 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge and the Grade 2, $68,535 AQHA Remington Park Challenge - due to severe weather that moved into the Oklahoma City area.

Lightning could be seen moving toward Remington Park as horses came onto the track for race 11. The group was immediately directed to return to the paddock as lightning began striking regularly within three miles of the track. As more weather was expected to threaten over the next few hours, the decision was made to cancel the final two races for ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 28, 2025–Two graded stakes from the AQHA Racing Challenge program headline Saturday's 12-race program at Remington Park.

Eight aged runners are entered in Saturday's 440-yard, $60,000-added AQHA Remington Championship Challenge (G2). The winner of this race will earn a berth in the October 18 AQHA Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Bradbury Racing's Nothin Like You, a homebred 6-year-old son of Favorite Cartel trained by John Hammes, will be making his first start since October 26, when he ran second, a neck behind winner Shakers No Secret, in the 440-yard, $278,000 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) The Colorado-bred gelding drew ...



AMARILLO, TX–MARCH 5, 2025–The sport of American Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading money earner, KJ Desparado, has joined the ranks of horses eligible to compete in the AQHA Racing Challenge by paying the $20,000 late enrollment fee to make him eligible for the rest of his career.

KJ Desparado is a 2019 bay gelding by Apollitical Jess ...




AMARILLO, TX–JANUARY 3, 2025–The 2025 season of the AQHA Racing Challenge will kick off on February 23 with the Cox Ranch Hipodromo Distaff Challenge in Mexico. There are 43 regional stakes races currently scheduled for this year’s Challenge, with more races expected to be added. Among them are 13 graded stakes races, and more than $1.3 million in added money alone. Stretching from the Hipodromo in Mexico to Century Mile in Alberta, 19 racetracks ...



CYPRESS, CA–DECEMBER 16, 2024–For the second straight year, the winner of the AQHA Challenge Championship posted a great effort in the Grade 1 $600,000 Champion of Champions. Last year, Tres Of Eagle ran a terrific third after winning the Challenge Championship.

This year, Abel and Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover's Shakers No Secret ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 26, 2024–Shakers No Secret, a 4-year-old gelded son of the multiple stakes sire Five Bar Cartel, sprinted to his first Grade 1 win in Saturday’s 440-yard, $277,975 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque Downs.

Trained by Marc Jungers for owners Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez, and Manny Dutchover, Shakers No ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 26, 2024–Ivan Rivera’s Frankie Jr scored an upset victory in Saturday’s $167,225 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) for sophomores at Albuquerque Downs.

Sent to post at odds of 8-1 in the field of eight 3-year-olds, Frankie Jr covered 400 yards in :19.350, and his winning margin was a neck from 7-10 favorite Mystic Paint. Nestor Duran rode the sorrel son of the Tempting Dash stallion Kas ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 26, 2024–Streaks Of Power broke sharply from post four and led at every call en route to a half-length win in Saturday’s $120,975 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) for fillies and mares at Albuquerque Downs.

Prepped by Monty Arrossa, Streaks Of Power covered her 400-yard trip in 19.367 under the ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 26, 2024–Arbitro, a bay son of the Corona Cartel stallion Ivory James, campaigned for Campos Family Ventures LLC, sped to a wire-to-wire victory in Saturday’s 350-yard, $144,100 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2) for 2-year-olds at Albuquerque Downs.

Ridden by James Flores and sent to post as the 4-1 third choice in the field of nine, Arbitro defeated Bottle It Up by three-quarters of a length in 17.343. Claudio Barraza prepped the colt, who earned a 95-speed index from his first graded stakes win.

Arbitro ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 26, 2024–From a field full of heavy hitters, the top two Volcoms, Favorite and Kj Leader Of the Pack, went back and forth for the lead to the wire. The favorite, Volcoms Favorite, came out on top for the win in the $115,000 Lip Chip LLC Distance Challenge Championship [G1] at the Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday.

Volcoms Favorite placed third in last year's AQHA Distance Challenge Championship Stakes [G1] to The Grand Legend and O Donavan Rossa.

Irwin Rosendo led Volcoms Favorite to victory this year ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER, 26, 2024–The AQHA Racing Challenge offers racing opportunity for horses from the regional to the national level, and with that gives more opportunity for horsemen to earn not only a piece of the rich stakes purses offered, but also year-end awards for the champion owner, breeder, trainer and jockey in the program.

The year-end awards are determined by points accumulated in regional qualifying races. At year end, the top earner in each division receives an award from one of AQHA’s Corporate Partners.

This ...



By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 25, 2024–What are the odds of landing in a Grade 1 stakes with a homebred from a one-broodmare operation?

Such is the luck of Oklahoma resident Paul Wolfe, who will cheer on his homebred One Fabulous Boy in the $265,000-est. AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) as the flagship of his breeding operation.

"It’s an extremely small one," Wolfe said. "It has been pretty fun. We don’t do things big at all, we try to keep things ...



By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 25, 2024–If an 870-yard race is about going the distance, $115,000-est. Lip Chip LLC Distance Challenge Championship (G1) contender FL Rizzo has that going on not just on the racetrack but also with history.

The 4-year-old gelding is a second-generation homebred for Lindley and Julia Myers of Prosser, Washington.

"His mother’s still out here in the pasture,” Lindley ...



By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 25, 2024–One of the best things about the AQHA Racing Challenge is how it brings together horses from all over the world, and this year’s Adequan Derby Challenge Championship is an example of that.

AQHA Racing Challenge leading owner Jerry Stojan is supporting his family legacy as he brings a trailer load of contenders to Albuquerque for the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships. Among them are stablemates Pretty Sweet Jess and Fired, who both will contest the $165,000-est. ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 24, 2024–All eyes of the American Quarter Horse racing world will be fixed on New Mexico this Saturday, as Albuquerque Downs Racetrack will host the 32nd AQHA Challenge Championships.

Post time for the first race on the 10-race all-stakes program is set for 6:05 p.m. (MDT)

The five Challenge Championship races will be contested in order from races 6-10. Following is a preview of ...



By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 22, 2024–Home court advantage for this year’s $140,000-est. John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G2) goes to Conflict, who enters this race with three races over the Downs at Albuquerque surface.

Racing for Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, Conflict has finished top-two in seven of his nine career starts. He was second in his most recent two starts, including the John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge (G3) just behind Karmalites ...



By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 22, 2024–The $115,000-est. Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) will offer a gate of great mares to watch compete, but it is also expected to be the swan song for Grade 1 winner Lynnder 16, who is preparing to retire from the racetrack after a remarkable career. The mare's record is practically unheard of today for a horse of her caliber, as this race will mark her 44th career start. She races for Tom Maher and Richard L. Tobin, who bought her as a weanling from breeders Jim and Marilyn Helzer. Lynnder 16's PPs ...



DALLAS, TX—OCTOBER 18, 2024—StallioneSearch.com launched its annual "AQHA Challenge Championship Preview" section today.

This special section, posted each year before the AQHA Challenge Championships, includes bios, pedigree, photo, owner, trainer, and jockey information on the finalists for each division of "Championship Night."

For the third time, The Downs in Albuquerque will host the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships. CLICK HERE for the 2024 StallioneSearch AQHA Challenge Championship's Preview.

AQHA Racing Committee Meeting will be held in Albuquerque on Friday, October 25th in conjunction with the AQHA Challenge weekend.

Five divisions of the Racing Challenge program cover ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 29, 2024–The $63,767 John Deere Juvenile Challenge marked the third straight win for trainer Jason Olmstead and jockey Ramiro Garcia in the regional challenge races at Will Rogers Downs on Sunday. The trainer/jockey duo teamed up for the 350-yard win with The Criminal for owner Tom Maher, who earned his second challenge stakes win of the day.

The Criminal was the outsider going into the race on 10-1 odds, which paid $23.60 to win, $8.00 to place and $4.80 to show. The son of leading sire Apollitical Jess got off with a good start toward the middle and went all out ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 29, 2024–Fastest qualifier Mystic Paint raced to a one-length victory in the $60,962 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge on Sunday at Will Rogers Downs.

Jockey Ramiro Garcia rode Mystic Paint to a convincing win over the 400 yards in 19.774 seconds, a 98-speed index into a 10 mph crosswind. It was the fifth win in 15 career starts for the brown colt.

Leading trainer Jason Olmstead conditions the son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon for owner William F. Harned. Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC bred Mystic Paint in ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 29, 2024–Big Lew Love raced to his first career stakes victory Sunday when he went wire-to-wire in the $28,424 Grade 3 Lip Chip Will Rogers Distance Challenge at Will Rogers Downs.

Jockey Mario Delgado quickly guided Big Lew Love to lead from the inside rail, then dueled down the stretch with runner-up Fi Rizzo. The winning margin was a neck after recording 45.532 seconds, a 99-speed index over the 870 yards into a 12 mph crosswind.

Trainer Eddie D. Willis saddled the ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 29, 2024–Defending champion and challenge race superstar Lynnder 16 had a battle on her hands but held on for the win in the $28,798 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge [G3] at Will Rogers Downs on Sunday. The victory marks the fourth consecutive year she has won this particular leg of the challenge races.

Firing fourth from ...



GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 28, 2024–Heavy favorite and fastest qualifier from the trials, Curls Joyful Wagon, celebrates her first stakes victory in the $39,644 Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge on Saturday at Lone Star Park.

Curls Joyful Wagon's 400-yard victory secures a berth into the Grade 1 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship during Challenge Championship night at the Downs at Albuquerque on October 26.

Jockey Ali Rivera got the leg up aboard Curls Joyful Wagon for their third consecutive win this season.  The duo won an Allowance at Remington Park, then their trial heat to the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge, ...



AMARILLO, TX–SEPTEMBER 27, 2024–Hotel reservations for the AQHA Racing Conference and Challenge Championships are due Saturday, October 5.

Everyone is invited to attend the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships, alongside the AQHA Racing ...



GRANTS PASS, OR–SEPTEMBER 22, 2024–Graded stakes winner Apolinaria Prize got her first win of the year today when she defeated a full field in the $58,718 AQHA Grants Pass Championship Challenge at Grants Pass Downs.

Bouncing off a second-place effort in the August 18 trials, jockey Cristian Gonzalez guided the 5-year-old mare to a new win over Ima Sixy Man. The daughter of multiple stakes ...



ALBUQUERQUE, NM–SEPTEMBER 21, 2024–Making his first start since June, Volcoms Favorite. (14-1)  became a graded stakes winner today following a three-quarter length victory in the $60,214 Lip Chip Albuquerque Distance Challenge(G2) at The Downs in Albuquerque.

Under jockey Irwin Rosendo Volcoms Favorite vied mid-stretch, then pulled away from his rivals and held for the victory. The son of champion Jess Good Candy completed the 870 yards in ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRANTS PASS, OR–SEPTEMBER 20, 2024–Ima Sixy Man, a multiple stakes-winning 4-year-old Corona Cartel gelding, is one of 10 aged runners entered back in Sunday’s 440-yard, $58,718 AQHA Grants Pass Championship Challenge at Grants Pass Downs.

Trained by Emilio Guerrero for owner Boardshorts Stables LLC, Ima Sixy Man won two stakes on the Northern California Fair Circuit last summer, including the July 4, 300-yard Jack Robinson Handicap at the Alameda County Fair in Pleasanton. The Oklahoma-bred gelding was a finalist in last year’s 400-yard, $163,000 ...



SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 19, 2024–Arbitro has been nearly perfect this season. He added to his accolades Thursday, September 19, in the regional race for the $46,376 John Deere Juvenile Challenge at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Not only did he score the local title, but Arbitro also earned a spot in the final during the AQHA Challenge Championships, which will be held on Saturday, October 26, at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Arbitro and Edgar Diaz broke from post six and were immediately tagged as the pair to catch. The freshman colt was joined by stablemate Pluto 22 and Juan Marquez through the early stages of the 350-yard dash. Coco Kiss and Rolando Pina also joined them in the quest for the top spot.

Arbitro and Pluto 22 began to move away from their opponents near ...



SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 19, 2024–HG Favorite Energy lives up to his name in the Tony Cunnigham barn. The sophomore is a barn favorite packed with personality and speed, causing the stable to celebrate a little more vibrantly following his win in the $37,774 Adequan Derby Challenge regional event on Thursday, September 19, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

HG Favorite Energy began from the outside post eight and was a step or two slow getting into the early action. Full Boogie and Erik Esqueda led the field from the inside early, joined by AJ Pure Gold and Juan Marquez, along with Jess Knew and Edgar Diaz on the inside.

Trailing early, HG Favorite Energy found his best stride midway through the 400-yard sprint and blasted in on the leaders from the far outside. The final stride was the winning blow for HG Favorite Energy to deliver to his opponents, scoring the win by one-half length ...



SHELBYVILLE, IN–SEPTEMBER 19, 2024–There was a question mark beside Sawyer Strange as she entered the gate for the $28,050 Cox Ranch Distaff Regional Challenge on Thursday, September 19, at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

The four-year-old mare was making her first start back in nearly a year. Still, she proved she hasn’t missed a step, ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI SHELBYVILLE, IN--SEPTEMBER 17, 2024--Three Bank of America Challenge Championship berths will be decided Thursday at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Ten 2-year-olds, led by fastest qualifier Arbitro, are entered back in Thursday’s 350-yard, $46,376 John Deere Indianapolis Juvenile Challenge. A bay Ivory James colt trained by Claudio Barraza for owner Campos Family Ventures, Arbitro is coming off of a one-length win in the ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 10, 2024–Grade 3 finalist Red Iron got her third career win on Tuesday while posting the fastest qualifying time for the John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge at Will Rogers Downs

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the three trial races contested today will return on Sunday, September 29, to compete for the winner's share of a $30,000-added purse at 350 yards.

The winner will also be invited to the $140,000-est John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) ...



CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 10, 2024–Bouncing off a fifth-place effort in the All American Derby trials in his last start, Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby runner-up Mystic Paint posted the fastest qualifying time for the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge on Tuesday at Will Rogers Downs

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the three trial races contested today will return on Sunday, September 29, to compete for the winner's share of a $30,000-added purse at 400 yards.

Also in play is a starting spot in the $165,000-est Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3), which will be contested at The Downs at Albuquerque during the Bank of American Challenge Championship Night on October 26.

Jockey Ramiro Garcia rode Mystic Paint to a 1 3/4-length victory in the opening ...



GRANTS PASS, OR–SEPTEMBER 8, 2024–Radar, a 5-year-old stakes-winning son of leading sire A Revenant, posted the fastest qualifying time for the AQHA Grants Pass Championship Challenge on Sunday when he won the last of two trials at Grants Pass Downs.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to Oregon racetrack on Sunday, September 22, to vie for the winner's share of a $40,000-added purse going the classic Quarter Horse distance of 440 yards.

A victory in the race will also earn the winner a berth into the ...



GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 7, 2024–Grade 1-placed Curls Joyful Wagon posted the fastest qualifying time from two trials contested tonight at Lone Star Park for the Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge.

The 10 fastest qualifiers, from Challenge enrolled fillies and mares 3-year-olds and up,  will return to Lone Star Park on Saturday, September 28, to vie for the winner's share of a $20,000-added purse going a distance of 400 yards.

As a bonus, the winner on September 28 will ...



BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 5, 2024–Curls Joyful Wagon and Jess Kissing Beau are two of the 15 fillies and mares entered in Saturday’s 400-yard Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge trials at Lone Star Park. The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the September 28, $20,000-added final.

Curls Joyful Wagon races for Martin Stacy from the barn of trainer ...



SHELBYVILLE, IN–AUGUST 31, 2024– Arbitro accelerated away from Macho Chick to get the victory in the first of two trials to the $30,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge on Saturday at Horseshoe Indianapolis, clocking the fastest qualifying time for the second time in his career.

Sent off at 1/9 odds under the guidance of Edgar Diaz, Arbitro clocked an 82 speed index in 18.105 seconds. The son of Ivory James led the four-horse field from gate to wire with a one-length victory. The post-time favorite's 350-yard effort paid $2.20 to win.

Arbitro scored his second career victory from three ...