AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—NOVEMBER 14, 2018— After a weekend featuring a trio of Grade 1 races in Texas and California, both AQHA Racing National Polls have a new look this week.

In the rankings for 3-year-olds and up, Hotstepper moved from No. 2 last week into a tie for No. 1 with Jessies First Down this week. The son of One Famous Eagle originally entered the poll at No. 3 after winning the All American Derby (G1) on September 2 at Ruidoso Downs and then in recent weeks moved up to No. 2. On Saturday, he captured the $375,610 Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park and then pulled even with two-time reigning world champion Jessies First Down in the latest rankings.

Hotstepper, via his All American win, has a berth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) on December 15 at Los Alamitos, while Jessies First Down, a winner of three Grade 1 races in as many starts this year, is expected to make his next start in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on December 30.

The older horse poll also featured a new face as Jesstacartel vaulted into a tie with He Looks Hot at No. 5 after scoring in the $925,100 Los Alamitos Super Derby (G1) on Sunday. The One Sweet Jess gelding also earned a Champion of Champions berth for his effort.

In the 2-year-old poll, All American Futurity (G1) winner Apocalyptical Jess held the No. 1 spot but is no longer the unanimous choice after finishing sixth in the $1,014,657 Texas Classic Futurity (G1) on Saturday. The winner of that race, Flying Cowboy 123, debuted in this week’s poll at No. 3. Apocalyptical Jess and Flying Cowboy 123 are both sons of Apollitical Jess trained by Blane Wood.

This coming weekend’s stakes action features the Bank of America Challenge Championships on Saturday at Los Alamitos. In the night’s richest race, the $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), No. 3-ranked BH Lisas Boy is expected to face No. 8-ranked Hold Air Hostage with yet another Champion of Champions berth on the line.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OLDER

1. (tie) HOTSTEPPER (89)
1. (tie) JESSIES FIRST DOWN (89)
3. BH LISAS BOY (66)
4. BODACIOUS EAGLE (54)
5. (tie) HE LOOKS HOT (50)
5. (tie) JESSTACARTEL (50)
7. ZOOMIN FOR SPUDS (37)
8. HOLD AIR HOSTAGE (32)
9. TARZANITO (26)
10. HEZA DASHA FIRE (25)

JESS MOVE YOU (16), KVN CORONA (6), SF HOT PASS (5), BRUCE ALLMTY (3), EOS A POLITICAL WIN (1), JESS RAVIN (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

1. APOCALYPTICAL JESS (91)
2. MM FOURINTHEMORNING (84)
3. FLYING COWBOY 123 (74)
4. FLASH AND ROLL (70)
5. WAVE HER DOWN (50)
6. BLUE CORAZON (49)
7. IM JESS SPECIAL V (31)
8. SUZE RETURNS (25)
9. LONG WAGON HO (23)
10. LYNNDER 16 (20) <9>

WICKED AFFAIR (9), DANJER (8), JESS FIRE CHICK (5), PAINT ME A SINNER (5), POWERFUL FAVORITE (4), COLE MAN 47 (2)

The integrity of American Quarter Horse racing is of utmost importance to AQHA. As part of a multifaceted effort to ensure integrity, AQHA has instituted a policy concerning awards and publicity that makes horses with racing medication positives and horses trained by trainers with racing medication positives ineligible for the AQHA Racing National Polls. CLICK HERE to read the complete policy.

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