Challenge


Stimulus Wins Prairie Meadows BOA Championship, Iowa Track Hosts Six Challenge Finals Saturday
Stimulus (#7) rallies over Bf Farm Boy (#1) to win the Grade 2 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Challenge Championship Saturday night.

© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Stimulus Wins Prairie Meadows BOA Championship, Iowa Track Hosts Six Challenge Finals Saturday

ALTOONA, IA—SEPTEMBER 13, 2014—Stimulus rallied down the stretch to overtake Bf Farm Boy in the final jump securing himself a starting spot in the $350,000-Guarateed Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1).

Prairie Meadows hosted six challenge races on Saturday's card with each winner securing him or herself a starting spot on the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night to be held October 18 at Prairie Meadows. It is the second time the Iowa racetrack will play host to the annual Quarter Horse Racing Challenge Championships.

Ridden by jockey Rodrigo Vallejo, Jerry Windham's homebred Stimulus completed the 440 yards in :21.484 seconds, a 104 speed index, to win the Grade 2 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Challenge Championship. A blanket finish by the top five finishers secured speed index ranging from the 104 to 102.

Charley Hunt saddled the royally bred son of leading sire Mr Jess Perry out of Veva Jean, by Runaway Winner. Stimulus is a half-brother to former world-champion and all-time leading money earner Stolis Winner. It was the third win in five starts this season for the graded stakes winner of nearly $80,000.

The hard-knocking Bf Farm Boy came into the race with the fastest qualifying time trial while defeating Stimulus. Ridden by jockey Cody Smith for trainer William Harris, the graded stakes winning son of Hawkinson has earned over $236,000. Wade Siegel and Don Boyle race the Oregon home-bred from the Strawfly Special mare Shirleys Strawfly.

Habits Secret finished neck back in the show position for owner/trainer Ricardo Martinez. Yordanis Amaro had the riding assignment aboard the No Secrets Here 4-year-old out of Habitual Dreamer, by Apollo (TB). Vessels Stallion Farm, LLC is the breeder.

Completing the order of finish were Fire And Corona, Mo Zoomo, I Dont Need Nobody, Kuhl Wave, Diamonds Edge and Sixes Straw. Slew Of Success was scratched.

AJs High Returns to Win John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge

Fastest qualifier Ajs High finished strong to defeated Wrs Secret Dream by a head in the $50,490 John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge on Saturday night. Wrs Secret Dream was disqualified for interference moving Coronas Concierge into second place and Mr El R 15 into the show position.

Stormy Smith pilots AJs High to victory in the John Deere Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge.
© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Ridden by Stormy Smith, the Charley Hunt trainee completed the 350 yards in :17.542 seconds to earn a 96 speed index. The homebred son of world champion and leading first crop sire Apollitical Jess races for Michael Teel.

Teel bred the stakes winner in Oklahoma from the Rare Form mare Regally Rare. The lightly raced Ajs High has won two of four starts this season and the $23,225 Juvenile purse more than doubled the gelding's earnings to nearly $60,000. He is expected to make his next start in the $150,000 Guaranteed John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2) on Saturday, October 18 during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Prairie Meadows.

Coronas Concierge is a daughter of leading sire Corona Cartel from the Mr Eye Opener mare Dianetogetcha. Owned by Tom and Bill Maher and trained by Jason Olmstead, the gray miss was bred in Oklahoma by Bobby D. Cox. Cody Smith had the riding assignment and earned $10,098.

Owned-bred-and-trained by Miguel Banuelos, Mr El R 15 was ridden by jockey Bryan Ernst. The Jess Louisiana Blue gelding is out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Da Belle. He picked up $5,049 for the effort.

Completing the official order of finish were Pyc Powerwagon, Majestic Policy, Ode Ta Ed, Wrs Secret Dream, Dao Valente, Greyice and Wrs Quick Regards.

Third Time Charm for Daytona B in Adequan Derby Challenge

Third time was the charm Saturday for Daytona B. Making his third derby appearance this season, the First Down Dash gelding defeated Sizzlin Mr Perry by half-a-length to win the $ 40,680 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge on Saturday. Jess Glory finished 1¼ lengths back in third place.

Yordanis Amaro scosres aboard Daytona B in the Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge.
© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Racing for owner Gregorio Garza and trainer Rolando Almanza, Daytona B completed the 400 yards in :19.492 seconds, a 101 speed index. Yordanis Amaro had the riding assignment aboard the gelding who nearly missed making the finals after getting disqualified from third in his trial to fastest qualifier Sizzlin Mr Perry. He was the ninth fastest qualifier after his time was adjusted.

Bielau Oaks bred the sorrel in Texas from the Toast to Dash mare Dashing Pana. His record stands at (9) 2-2-1 and the $18,713 winner's purse boosted his career mark to $63,401. His next start should be the $200,000 Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Prairie Meadows October 18.

Racing for owner/trainer Rodrigo Covarrubias, Sizzlin Mr Perry picked up $8,136 for his second place effort. Jesus Salazar rode the Texas-bred son of Mr Jess Perry out of Sizzling Lola, by First Down Dash. Bobby D. Cox is the breeder.

Jess Glory, another Mr Jess Perry gelding, races for owner Richard Tobin and trainer Alex Wessels. Johnny Trotter bred Jess Glory in Oklahoma from the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Of Glory. Ridden by David Pinon, he earned $4,068 for the effort.

Wagon Of Roses Lvc, Fernando, Toofasmoustee, As One, Ms Stolaway, For Your First Lady and Fatal Policy completed the field.

Madresita Punches Ticket For Merial Distaff Challenge

Rodney Verret's Madresita finished strong to defeat Xoom by a head in the $32,040 Merial Prairie Meadows Distaff Challenge on Saturday, securing herself a staring spot in the $125,000-Guaranteed Merial Distaff Challenge Championship(G1) starting gate October 18th. Glory Rider finished a nose off the leaders in the show position.

Jockey Jorge Torres rides Madresita to victory in the Merial Prairie Meadows Distaff Challenge.
© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Ridden by Jorge Torres, the 4-year-old daughter of Pappasito covered the 400 yards in a quick :19.725 seconds, a 95 speed index. The $14,738 winner's purse boosted her earnings total to nearly $102,000 as she got her second stakes win of this year.

Kasey Willis conditions the Oklahoma-bred miss out of Moongoose Jet Eye, by Mr Eye Opener. MacKie Racing, LLC bred the six-time winner.

Winless in seven starts this season, Zoom has been second or third five times for owner/breeder Paul Treadwell and trainer Ed Hardy. David Pinon rode the Shazoom filly out of Dashing Dion, by Heza Fast Man.

Willis also saddled third place finisher Glory Rider for owner You And Me Partners. Homer Hill bred the Valiant Hero filly from the multiple stakes producer Mighty B Doll, by On A High. Ridden by Cesar Gomez, Glory Rider earned $3,204 for her effort.

Camille, Stolis Angel, Cc Tres, Ianna, Pyc Pick Your Pocket, Vibranz and Winter Goddess completed the field.

Hada Certain Charm Steps Up In Red Cell Distance Victory

Hada Certain Charm, who started for a $10,000 tag just two races back, got his first career stakes win Saturday night when he defeated Mixed Fantasy by two lengths in the $29,700 Red Cell Prairie Meadows Distance Challenge. Post-time favorite finished half-a-length back in the show position.

Hada Certain Charm, under jockey Cody Smith, winning the Red Cell Prairie Meadows Distance Challenge.
© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Ridden by jockey Cody Smith the Hadtobenuts 4-year-old got slammed at the start and was lodged three wide in the turn but rallied to completed the 870 yards in :45.404 seconds, a 98 speed index. The $14,256 winner's purse boosted his career total to nearly $83,000.

Trainer Jason Olmstead saddled the Kansas homebred for Leo Butell and Mike Schau. His expected next start will be the $125,000-Guaranteed Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship(G1) on October 18 at Prairie Meadows.

Graded stakes winner Mixed Fantasy races for J K Running Horses, LLC and trainer Kenny Laymon. Josh Romero rode the Okey Dokey Fantasy 4-year-old out of Mixin Sixin, by Streakin Six. Carl and Luanne Humphries bred the nine-time winner in Alabama. He pocketed $6,089 to push his earnings total to $112,788.

Looking for his third consecutive win, post-time favorite Hastabealeader had to settle for third for owner John Johnson and trainer Shilo Johnson. Tony Guymon rode the Hasta Be Fast 4-yaer-old. Wardell Quarter Horses bred Hastabealeader in Wyoming from the Special Leader mare Leadmetoyourladder.

Zonic Zoom, Call Her Hero, Also A Feature, Cmb Numero Uno and Jess A Runner completed the field.

Zoetis Prairie Meadows Starter Allowance Challenge

Willie Mosconi left on top under jockey Dylan Williams and finished in command to win the Zoetis Prairie Meadows Starter Allowance Challenge Saturday night at Prairie Meadows. The Ivory James 5-year-old defeated Storm Hero by 1 ½ lengths with Shakalo finished half-a-length back in third.

Dylan Williams rides Willie Mosconi to victory in the Zoetis Prairie Meadows Starter Allowance.
© Jack Coady / Coady Photography
Willie Mosconi completed the 350 yards in a quick :17.571 seconds, a 95 speed index. Owned-and-trained by Jorge Escalera, the gelding picked up $8,726 to bring his earnings total to $71,013. The win also earned Willie Mosconi a starting spot in the $75,000-Guaranteed Zoetis Starter Allowance Challenge Championship on October 18.

Owned-and-trained by Ricardo Martinez, Stormin Hero earned $3,726 for her second place effort. Yordanis Amaro rode the Texas-bred Valiant Hero filly out of Sweethearts Quicksix, by Sixarun. Todd and Jodi Horton is the breeder.

Trainer Charley Hunt saddled Shakalo, an Oklahoma bred son of Feature Mr Jess for owner Michael Teel. Ridden by Stormy Smith, Shakalo earned $1,818. Ann and Brad Tate bred the bay gelding from the First Down Dash mare Only The Wicked.

Completing the field were Papa Jack, Rock Zar, Volcoms Crash, Cartels Runaway and Eye Fly Bye.