Challenge


Love to Reason Br Stamps Ticket to ARC Distaff Challenge Championship in Pocatello
Love To Reason Br (pictured winning at Los Alamitos Race Course) earned a starting spot in the $125,000-est. ARC Distaff Championship Challenge(G1) on October 26th.

© Scott Martinez
Love to Reason Br Stamps Ticket to ARC Distaff Challenge Championship in Pocatello

POCATELLO, ID—SEPTEMBER 15, 2019—Graded stakes winner Love to Reason Br picked up a berth to the Challenge Championships with a win in the $25,700 ARC Pocatello Downs Distaff Challenge on Sunday afternoon.

The 6-year-old mare was ridden by Jesus Canales in the gate-to-wire victory. The final time for the 400-yard stake was 19.834, giving Love to Reason Br a 105 speed index.

Love to Reason Br ($9.20) is trained by Jose Gomez for owner CMH Welding, LLC. She was bred in California by Benny Rosset, by Good Reason SA and out of the Strawfly Special mare Strength in Numbers.

Love to Reason Br has seven wins in 24 starts with $97,141 in career earnings. She has competed in Challenge races since she was a 2-year-old and won the Sun Downs Distaff Challenge as a 5-year-old. She is a multiple stakes winner, including the Las Damas Handicap (G3) at Los Alamitos last November.

Second-place finisher Duck Dash N Go is also a graded stakes winner with several Challenge race appearances. She was third in both the Los Alamitos Distaff Challenge (G3) and the AQHA Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) last year and has won multiple stakes, including the Independence Day Handicap (G3) at Los Al.

Monty Arossa trains Duck Dash N Go for owner Lex Fabrizio; Eric Ayala had the call on Sunday. The 5-year-old daughter of Coronas Fast Dash was bred in Oklahoma by Bobby Cox, out of Duck Mea Running, by Tour De Kas.

Post-time favorite Loco Ocho completed the trifecta for trainer Garth Blatner. Jesus Valenzuela was up for owners and breeders Les and Darla Barlow. Loco Ocho was bred in Idaho, by The Lousiana Cartle and out of the multiple stakes winning mare Sign of Pride, by First Wrangler.

Loco Ocho entered Sunday’s stake in search of her fifth consecutive win. It was the first appearance in a Challenge race for the 3-year-old filly.

Completing the field were Royallittlewagon, Estelline, Kissin Kate Barlow and Look Secret. Betrothen and Wavin N Rich were scratched.