Challenge


Pops First Lady Late Enrolls In The Bank of America Racing Challenge
Grade 1 winner Pops First Lady is a late enrollee to the Bank of America Challenge Championships, with much opportunity now opened to her.

© Dustin Orona Photography
Pops First Lady Late Enrolls In The Bank of America Racing Challenge

AMARILLO, TX–JUNE 15, 2022–Grade 1 winner Pops First Lady has become a Bank of America Racing Challenge enrollee, as her connections have paid the $20,000 fee to give the 4-year-old mare access to Challenge races for the remainder of his racing career.

The Bank of America Racing Challenge provides more racing opportunity for American Quarter Horses of all ages and specialties. The program has put than $100 million in purses in the pockets of horsemen since its inception. Breeders and owners can simply nominate their horse and have a world of stakes races open up for their horse for as little as $300.

One of the mainstays of the program is the distaff division, which is open to fillies and mares age 3 and above, and a division that Pops First Lady will now be eligible for.

The mare is owned by Ruse Ranch LLC of Laredo, Texas, and most recently won the $108,620 Junos Request Stakes (G1) with a furious rally late in the stretch. In her prior start, she also won the Easy Date Stakes (G3).

Bred by Gary Kurz/Double M Racing, the mare is by Apollitical Jess and out of the Shazoom mare Shazooms Pop Pop. She has won five of 13 career starts and earned $237,249.

If Pops First Lady is able to win a qualifying Challenge stakes race, she would be eligible to contest the

$100,000-est. Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge (G1) at the Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 22 at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

For more information on the Challenge program, to see a schedule, or to enroll a horse, visit www.aqha.com/bank-of-america-racing-challenge.

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