Emerald Downs hosted two trials on Sunday for the $35,000-added Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge.

© Emerald Downs

AUBURN, WA—AUGUST 4, 2019—Two trials on Sunday determined the field for the Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge. The 440-yard regional qualifier is scheduled for

The top two fastest qualifiers finished first and second in the first trial of the day, led by Cm Boom Shakalaka in 22.134.

Cm Boom Shakalaka ($3.40) and jockey Javier Matias were heavily favored in the race following his most recent campaign at Los Alamitos, including a second place finish in the Kaweah Bar Handicap (G3), qualifying to the Southern California Derby (G2) and competing in the Vessels Maturity (G1) in his most recent start.

The 4-year-old son of Carters Cartel is also undefeated in two starts at Emerald. In addition to Sunday’s trial win, he won the Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge in 2017 and represented the region with a fifth-place finish in the AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge (G2) at Prairie Meadows that fall.

Cm Boom Shakalaka is trained by Nick Lowe, who also co-owns with Chris Sutton. He was bred in Oregon by Randy Dickerson, out of Mi Fames a Dandy, by Dash Ta Fame.

For Sweet Jess finished a head behind Cm Boom Shakalaka as the second fastest qualifier with a time of 22.154. The 6-year-old gelding was ridden by Alex Anaya for trainer Juan Sanguino and ownership Sanguino Racing LLC.

For Sweet Jess was bred in Arizona by K & R Allred Ranch LLC, by One Sweet Jess and out of the Chicks Beduino mare For Some Cash. He broke his maiden at Emerald in 2015 and finished second itn eh AQHA John Deere Juvenile Challenge at Lone Star that year.

Third fastest qualifier Love to Reason Br won the second of two trials with a time of 22.282. Love to Reason Br ($7.00) was ridden by Leonardo Gonzalez for trainer Jose Rosales Gomez. She is owned by Mario Hurtado and was bred by Benny Rosset. A California-bred mare, Love to Reason Br is by Good Reason SA and out of Strength in Numbers, by Strawfly Special.

Love to Reason Br has won multiple stakes and is a recent graded stakes winner; she won the Las Damas Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos last November.

For a complete list of Bank of America Emerald Downs Championship Challenge qualifiers with their individual times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.