KENNEWICK, WA—MAY 12, 2019—Favorite Bling stamped her ticket to this year’s Challenge Championships with an easy win in the $21,973 ARC Sun Downs Distaff Challenge on Sunday afternoon.

Piloted by Salvador Ibarra, Favorite Bling was three lengths clear of the rest of the field at the wire. The final time for the 400-yard stake was 20.106; the winner earned a 99 speed index.

Favorite Bling ($5.80) is a 4-year-old daughter of Favorite Cartel. She was bred in Oregon by Donald and Peggy Boyle out of the Hawkinson mare Spring Bling. Spring Bling is out of Shirleys Strawfly, making her a full sister to Bf Farm Boy and Bf Farm Boss.

Favorite Bling is trained by Jose Rosales Gomez for owner Juan Morales Garcia. She has four wins in 17 career starts and has earned $52,961. The Distaff victory was her second stakes win; in 2018, she won the Sun Downs Derby Challenge and finished fifth in the AQHA Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Los Alamitos. She is now undefeated in three starts at Sun Downs.

The $100,000-est. Grade 1 Arc Distaff Challenge Championship will be contested Saturday, October 26th at The Downs at Albuquerque on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night.

Ag Favorite Cartel was the narrow post-time favorite and defeated third-place finisher Shez Sneakin Fast by a length.

Ag Favorite Cartel was ridden by Jake Samuels for trainer Hector Magallanes and owners Adrian and Atilano Gonzalez.

The 4-year-old filly was bred in Oklahoma by J.C. Wells, also by Favorite Cartel and out of the Fishers Dash mare Naughty No More. This was her first start at Sun Downs. She debuted at Los Alamitos and competed at Portland Meadows over the winter. Sunday’s runner-up position is her best career placing in a stakes race.

Completing the trifecta was Shez Sneakin Fast and jockey Robert Burney. Shez Sneakin Fast is a 6-year-old daughter of Heza Fast Dash, bred in Oregon by Gary Chumbley, out of Sneak Bac, by Splash Bac. She is owned by Connie Chumbley and trained by Scott Raley.

Shez Sneakin Fast has six wins in her 25 career starts, including multiple stakes appearances at Sun Downs, Portland Meadows and Grants Pass, and has career earnings of $39,431.

Completing the field were Diva Has It and Pink Shoelaces. Land of Ahhs was scratched.