ALTOONA, IA—AUGUST 28, 2010—Jess A Runner, Acorn and Believers Gathering have each, respectively, earned a starting spot on Bank of America Challenge Championship Night after three more Challenge races were contested at Prairie Meadows on Saturday evening.

One of the biggest nights of Quarter Horse racing will take place at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans on November 19th.

Jess A Runner Gets Invite to Bank of America Challenge Championship

Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr., rode JK Running Horses LLC's Jess A Runner to victory in the $66,870 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Challenge Championship(G2) on Saturday night.

The Jess Louisiana Blue gelding drew clear from the outside post to win going away by one length in :21.539 seconds over the 440 yard course. The brown gelding picked up $31,429 and earned a 101 speed index for his effort.

Trained by Jose Ibarra, Jess A Runner could now be making his next start in the $350,000 Guaranteed Bank of America Challenge Championship(G1) on November 19th at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

The 4-year-old pushed his career record to 5-1-3 in 13 starts and the winner's purse moved his earnings to more than $76,000. Jess A Runner came into the race off a 1 ¼ length optional $10,000 claiming victory at Canterbury Park on August 1st. He was third in the Great Lakes Stakes on July 4th and fourth in the Bank of America Remington Park Challenge Championship(G1) on May 9th.

Paul Newmaster bred Jess A Runner in Kansas from the My Designated Driver mare Katiebug Driver.

Feature Jess Rockin overcame a bumpy start to finish a game second for owner Reed Land and Cattle Co. LLC. Saddled by Donnie Strickland the Feature Mr Jess 5-year-old picked up $13,374 for her effort.

Ridden by Thomas Byrd, Feature Jess Rockin was making only her third start this season. She won the Sawgrass Stakes by 1 ¼ lengths at Hialeah Park in January and then finished a neck off the ultra hot Spit Curl Diva in the Decketta Handicap(G3) on March 27th at Remington Park.

Feature Jess Rockin has earned $86,982 with a 4-11-1 record in 25 starts. The home-bred filly is out of Meter Me Rockin, by Meter Me Gone.

Cruzin To Victory was a head back in third for owner/trainer Kirk Wessels. The Corona Cartel 9-year-old picked up $6,687 to push his lifetime mark past $276,000. Regular rider Jesse Vega was in the irons.

Heavy race favorite XO Kate faded in the stretch to finish ninth.

The official order of finish was Jess A Runner, Feature Jess Rockin, Cruzin To Victory, Skyline Lover, Value The Man, Struttin High, Quick Brew, Xo Kate and Lone Star Stoli.

Heavy Favorite Acorn Gets Third Straight in Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby

Racing for his breeding Rose Mary Chandler, Acorn was installed as the favorite and didn't disappointment as he won the $33,030 Adequan Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge on Saturday night.

Even with a bumpy start, the Oak Tree Special gelding prevailed by ¾'s in a time of :19.756 seconds. He earned $15,194 and punched his ticket to compete in the $200,000 Guaranteed Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G1) on November 19th at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Jane Van Bebber saddled the gray to his third consecutive victory. Acorn started his spree with a 3 ¾ length derby trial win June 19th and then returned to win the Sam Houston Derby(G2) by ¾ on July 2nd. Undefeated this season the winning purse moved his lifetime earnings to over the $100,000 mark.

Chandler bred the gelding from the Thoroughbred mare Trio Gal, by Tasso. He won or placed in five of seven starts at two with a second in the Evangeline Downs Futurity and also qualified to the grade 1 Sam Houston Futurity. Alfonso Lujan was back in the saddle for Saturday's victory.

Ignacio Soto's Gallant Corona finished strongly picking up $6,602 for second. Champion jockey G.R. Carter, Jr. was aboard the Alonzo Loya trainee from the 10 hole.

The Corona For Me gelding has earned more than $112,000 with a 6-2-1 record after 13 starts.

Hollywood Trickster chased gamely to finish ¾ back in third for owner Christine Hovey. Saddled by Ed Ross Hardy, the Favorite Trick-TB gelding was ridden by David Brown to earn $3,303.

He came into the race off a second place effort in the Adequan Canterbury Park Derby Challenge race on July23rd. The seasoned runner was also a finalist in the $100,000 Remington Park Derby(G1) earlier this year.

Completing the field were Babblin Brook, Federal Express Pack, Cartels Feature, Dead Heat for 7th between Feature Otoole and Feature Mr Snow, Regal Rockn and Effortless Jessie.

Longest Shot, Believers Gathering Surprises in Merial Prairie Meadows Distaff

Walt Fletcher's home-bred Believers Gathering surprised a field of eight fillies and mares as she dug in for a game victory in the $26,860 Merial Prairie Meadows Distaff Challenge Stakes.

The victory not only earned her the winner's purse of $12,817, but she also will get a chance to compete in the $125,000 Guaranteed Merial Distaff Challenge Championship(G1) on November 19th during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at the Fair Grounds Race Course in New Orleans.

Believers Gathering rewarded her backers with $41 to win, $16.60 to place and $7.80 to show on a $2 ticket.

Saddled by Charlton Hunt, the Agouti 4-year-old completed the 400 yards in :19.899 seconds. Under jockey Orlando Baldillez the gray filly out of None As Easy, by Dashin Is Easy won by a nose.

Race favorite Sea Ola Go was a game second to finish third for owner Alonso Orozco. Juan Torres trains the Ought To Be First 6-year-old mare with Esgar Ramirez riding. She picked up $5,454 for her effort.

Trainer Charley Hunt saddled Nancy McCoy's 4-year-old Send Me A Perry to finish a head back for third. G.R. Carter, Jr., was aboard the Mr Jess Perry filly who earned $2,727.

Completing the field were Dads On A Prowl, Fittin To Fly, Dasha Effort. Coeur D Alene and Featureingmissjess.