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Streaking Runners Rise in AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Poll
Quirky earned the No. 6 ranking in this week's AQHA Racing/Horseplayernow.com national poll for 3-year-olds and older after winning Sunday's Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap (G1) at Los Alamitos.

© Scott Martinez
Streaking Runners Rise in AQHA Racing-Horseplayernow.com National Poll

Q-RACING JOURNAL—SEPTEMBER 30, 2015—Quirky remained perfect in 2015 by winning Sunday's Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap (G1) at Los Alamitos and earned the No. 6 ranking in this week's AQHA Racing / Horseplayernow.com national poll for 3-year-olds and older. A winner in five straight races – all stakes – dating back to last December, Quirky was one of two newcomers to the poll this week. Reigning world champion JRC Callas First returned to the rankings at No. 8 following his win in the inaugural $200,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship. He has now won three stakes in a row after dropping his first two decisions of the season.

Apollitical Blood remains the top-ranked older horse in the nation with 106 of a possible 110 points in the balloting. It's the fourth week at No. 1 for the All American Derby (G1) winner.

Among the 2-year-olds, Nucky ran his record to 5-for-5 lifetime with a win in last weekend's Dash For Cash Futurity (G1) trials at Lone Star Park and re-entered the poll this week at No. 8. All American Futurity (G1) winner Jess Good Candy remained a unanimous No. 1 to pace the juvenile balloting this week.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

  1. JESS GOOD CANDY (110)
  2. WALK THRU CRYSTAL (97)
  3. BV MIDNITE EXPRESS (76)
  4. FIRST VALIANT SIGN (74)
  5. TRES FRIENDS (64)
  6. ONE FABULOUS EAGLE (54)
  7. REGARD WITH RESPECT (31)
  8. NUCKY (20)
  9. IVAN JAMES (19)
  10. JESSA LOUISIANA ZOOM (16)

Mayleen PYC (8), Tee Chic (7), TF Im That Guy (7), A Tres of Paint (6), Phoebes Dynasty (5), Not Perry Pretty (4), Magic Black Jack (3), My Royal Wagon (3), Docs Best Card (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS & OLDER

  1. APOLLITICAL BLOOD (106)
  2. DASHIN BROWN STREAK (96)
  3. MOONIST (84)
  4. KISS MY HOCKS (75)
  5. FAR NIENTE (53)
  6. QUIRKY (41)
  7. MATABARI (31)
  8. JRC CALLAS FIRST (29)
  9. HEZA DASHA FIRE (28)
  10. ROCK YOU (26)

BF Farm Boss (12), Sam Crow (11), Fire Fortune (5), Forget It (4), Pure D Spit (2), Open Me A Corona (1), Houdini (1).

Voting Panel:
Ed Burgart (Los Alamitos), Martha Claussen (Wrabgker Ace), Mike Cusortelli (SureBet Racing News/Stallionesearch.com), Tom Dawson (Sports Television Producer), Dale Day (Remington Park), Ben Hudson (TRACK Magazine ), Dave Weaver (TVG), Jeremy Plonk (Horse Player NOW), Jerry Shottenkirk (Horse Player NOW), Terry Turrell (Horse Player NOW) and Ty Wyant (Ruidoso Downs).

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHARacing on Twitter, watch the AQHA Racing Newscast and visit www.aqharacing.com.