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Champion Hold Air Hostage Works Towards All American Gold Cup(G2)
Hold Air Hostage, under jockey Jessie Lee Levario, works at Ruidoso Downs Monday morning.

© StallioneSearch / Greg Thompson
Champion Hold Air Hostage Works Towards All American Gold Cup(G2)

by Greg Thompson, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO, NM–AUGUST 19, 2019—AQHA Racing champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Hold Air Hostage worked 330-yards at Ruidoso Downs this morning (Monday) in preparation for the 2019 All American Gold Cup(G2) on Labor Day weekend.

With jockey Jessie Lee Levario aboard, the gelded-son of leading sire Apollitical Jess went to the gates at approximately 7:13 am (MST) to put in the work in preparation for the $200,000 race. The gelding completed the 330-yard work in a time of :17.13 second.

CLICK HERE to view the Stallionesearch exclusive coverage of the Hold Air Hostage work.

Hold Air Hostage has not gone to post since November of last year, when he finished fourth to BH Lisas Boy in the Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) finals at Los Alamitos Racecourse.

At the time, he was owned by Darling Farms who have since sold the gelding privately to prominent owner Sammy Valeriano.

Hold Air Hostage shot to stardom in the Quarter Horse ranks when he rattled off wins in the Heritage Place Derby(G2), Rainbow Derby(G1), and the All American Derby(G1) in his three-year old campaign. He was recognized with AQHA Champion Three-Year Old and AQHA Champion Three-Year Old Gelding honors.

Last year in his four-year old campaign, Hold Air Hostage stormed to victory in an ultra-impressive romp in the Sooner Stakes(RG1) at Remington Park, before finishing second to his former-stablemate Jessies First Down(G1) in the Remington Park Invitational Championship(G1).

He has compiled a (17) 9-3-2 record and earned $1,369,551.