American Hat (inside) and Bout Tree Fiddy dead-heat in the $26,544 AQHA Canterbury Park Distance Challenge on Sunday.

© Coady Photography

SHAKOPEE, MN—JULY 7, 2019—The first running of $26,554 Canterbury Park Distance Challenge was be one for the history books; the only 870-yard race of the Canterbury Park 2019 Quarter Horse meet ended in a dead heat between American Hat and Bout Tree Fiddy on Sunday afternoon

Final time for the 870-yard stake was 46.208 and the winners earned a 93 speed index.

American Hat ($3.40) and Jorge Torres broke sharply from the rail and maintained a lead throughout the race until the deep in the final stretch, as Bout Tree Fiddy and Nik Goodwin closed steadily to catch the leader at the wire.

It was the third start of the year for American Hat and his second 870-yard start of the season. He has three wins around the turn and he has only finished out of the money twice at the distance.

American Hat (#1), under Jorge Torres and Bout Tree Fiddy (#5) and Nik Goodwin battle to the wire in Sunday's AQHA Canterbury Park Distance Challenge. © Coady Photography

The 4-year-old gelding is trained by Stacy Charette-Hill and is owned by Buckway Ranch, LLC, which includes former jockey Billy Peterson. When asked how it compares to watch a race as an owner rather than as a rider, Peterson observed, “It’s a lot more nerve-racking than when you’re riding, because you have no control over the outcome. This is more exciting as an owner, and we give a lot of credit to Jorge and the Hills and the job they have done training this horse.” Peterson won the All American Futurity aboard Winalota Cash in 1995.

American Hat is bred in California by Steve Burns DVM, by Favorite Cartel and out Hat D Strawfly, by Strawfly Special.

Bout Tree Fiddy ($2.40) was making just his second lifetime start at 870 yards. The accomplished 5-year-old gelding was third in the Bank of American Canterbury Championship Challenge and was sixth in the Grade 1 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos in 2018.

Bout Tree Fiddy is owned and bred by Patrick Swan and Carry “Rusty” Allred; Swan also trains. The Oklahoma-bred son of Ivory James is out of Hollie Jollie, by Fredricksburg, and was the MQHRA Open High Point Champion of 2018.

Edelman completed the trifecta after a slow start from the outside with jockey Ry Eikleberry aboard. Edelman is trained by John Hammes, who also co-owns with Nick Hammes.

Like American Hat, Edelman is also a son of Favorite Cartel bred by Steve Burns, DVM in California, and is out of Katie Katella, by Separatist.

Completing the field were Rock Wit Cha Baby, Virgil Cole and Hastabealeader.