HOUSTON, TX—APRIL 20, 2016—What's a former World Champion to do when he turns 6-years-old and ​seeks races with purses worthy of his status?

That was the recent challenge facing 2014 World Champion Jrc Callas First's owners, Brian and Dana Stroud, when they contemplated a plan that could give the son of Winners Award another shot at a World Championship.

In February this year the couple decided to invest $20,000 to late-enroll Jrc Callas First into the AQHA Challenge program. This immediately opened a myriad of racing opportunities for the gelding in 2016.

The Strouds could pick from as many as 11 regional races for the Bank of America Challenge Championship series from California to Texas and Canada to Mexico, with a combined total of more than $720,000 in added purse money.

The Strouds's happen to have chosen to enter Jrc Callas First in the $95,000-added Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship trials on March 25, one of the first races available on the 2016 Challenge schedule.

After winning his trial and qualifying for the final, Jrc Callas First raced to impressive 1¼ length win in the $107,730 Bank of America Texas Challenge Championship Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

"It was a little nerve wracking writing the $20,000 check, but looks like we did the right thing!" said Dana Stroud.

The Strouds earned their $20,000 investment back, plus an extra $29,556 after pocketing the winner's share worth $49,556.

That victory also secures Jrc Callas First a starting spot in the Grade 1 $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Los Alamitos Race Course October 29.

The Bank of America Challenge Championship winner will receive an automatic berth to the Grade 1 $500,000 Champion of Champions on December 10.

"We gave the Challenge enrollment careful thought as that was a whole lot of money, added Brian Stroud, who also trains JRC Callas First. "The opportunity this year to win a regional Challenge and get a chance to run at Los Alamitos was important to us. We wanted an opportunity to face Moonist and Heza Dasha Fire if we are able to make it to the Champion of Champions."

Should Jrc Callas First be lucky enough to win both the Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) and the Champion of Champions(G1) he could earn as much as $460,000. Add that to the earnings in the Texas Challenge Championship race he already pocketed and the Strouds could see an ROI (return on investment) of more than 25 times their late-nomination fee.

“One of the best features of the Racing Challenge Program is that it gives our talented older horses, like JRC Callas First, a chance to continue their careers at a competitive level," Jen Perkins, AQHA Director of Racing says. "The Challenge offers racing opportunities to horses of all abilities and all ages, so enrolling in the program ensures that your horse will always have a place to run.”

For enrollment information on the Bank of America Challenge program call 877-222-7223 or email Melinda Reed at mreed@aqha.org.

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Additional reporting courtesy Martha Claussen.