Long Lost Buddy was a $28,000 Heritage Place Sale purchase.

© NQHRA FaceBook / Audra Harding

KENNEWICK, WA—MAY 4, 2017—Long Lost Buddy will be in pursuit of his fifth consecutive win this Saturday in the $50,760 Adequan Sun Downs Derby Challenge at Sun Downs. Idaho-based trainer Mark Hanson is downright amazed at that statistic after what could have been a tragic start for the California-bred son of Favorite Cartel.

We purchased him for $28,000 at the Heritage Place Sale and brought him back to the farm, explained Hanson. My brother, Ryan and I were at Lone Star getting ready for the 2015 Bank of America Challenge and got a call from our dad, Jim that Buddy had jumped out of his stall and was running loose.

Amazingly, Long Lost Buddy, owned by the Hanson family’s Pocatello, Idaho RTM Stables, in partnership with Ben McKinney and Richard Gardner, suffered no cuts or damage from his escapade. Hanson attributes that to the gelding’s his sheer athleticism.

He’s a pretty special horse, and a little bit quirky, added Hanson. We had to do things slowly with him, but found him to be a very quick learner. On the track, he puts 110% into each work and race and comes back exhausted because he tries so hard!

Despite his less than auspicious beginning, Hanson is high on Long Lost Buddy, and assesses that his talent rivals that of Ynot Walk, who won eight career starts, including the 2015 Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) for the Hanson family and co-owned George Weldon.

Buddy is a big, long-striding runner, but has a quick turn of foot, Hanson said. We think he will enjoy 440 yards in the future.

The Hanson family had success in past editions of the Bank of America Challenge. In 2013, Jr Dynasty Mountain took top honors in the $202,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G2), and Honoroso captured the $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship (G1).

They were well-represented in the 2015 Bank of America Challenge at Lone Star Park with Ynot Walk, Betrothen, Pappas in the House and Sign of Corona. While none emerged victorious in their respective Challenge championships, Jim was honored as the leading trainer and their rider, Eddie Aceves topped the Wrangler jockey points division.

Hanson is hopeful that Long Lost Buddy and several stablemates will win their regional Challenge races and make it to this year’s Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 14 at Prairie Meadows.

Prairie Meadows is a first-class racetrack, stated Hanson. We ran there in 2012 and 2014 and were really pleased with the welcoming atmosphere. Several of our 2-year-olds are paid into the Valley Junction Futurity (also on October 14), so we are looking forward to their meet.

Courtesy Q-RACING