AMERICAN QUARTER HORSE ASSOCIATION—NOVEMBER 21, 2018—Several ranked horses running at Los Alamitos Race Course over the weekend lived up to their billing, and as a result there were only minor changes to the latest AQHA Racing National Poll for older horses.

The highest-ranked horse to compete in Southern California was last week's No. 3 BH Lisas Boy, who captured the $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) on Saturday. The 6-year-old gelding received more voting points this week but remained third in the rankings.

There was a change at the top, however, as Jessies First Down edged out Hotstepper for No. 1 after the two were tied last week. Both horses were idle last week.

On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Bodacious Eagle prevailed by a neck over Heza Dasha Fire in the first of two Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials to advance both runners to the $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) on December 15. Bodacious Eagle held his No. 4 spot in this week's poll, though like BH Lisas Boy he also picked up some voting points. Heza Dasha Fire moved up from No. 10 last week to No. 8 this week.

Finally, Zoomin For Spuds, who earned his Champion of Champions berth earlier in the year, won the second Directors Trial and remained at the No. 7 spot in the poll.

As it currently stands, the Champion of Champions could include eight of the top 10 ranked older horses with only Jessies First Down, who is expected to run in The Championship at Sunland Park (G1) on December 30, and No. 9 Hold Air Hostage, who does not have a berth, missing from the field.

In the 2-year-old rankings, there were no significant changes as All American Futurity (G1) winner Apocalyptical Jess again occupies the No. 1 spot. This Sunday's racing action will feature trials for Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1) and could include multiple ranked horses.

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 3-YEAR-OLDS AND OLDER

1. JESSIES FIRST DOWN (90)
2. HOTSTEPPER (85)
3. BH LISAS BOY (73)
4. BODACIOUS EAGLE (63)
5. JESSTACARTEL (48)
6. HE LOOKS HOT (47)
7. ZOOMIN FOR SPUDS (39)
8. HEZA DASHA FIRE (28)
9. HOLD AIR HOSTAGE (26)
10. TARZANITO (23)

JESS MOVE YOU (15), KVN CORONA (5), SF HOT PASS (3), BRUCE ALLMTY (2), EOS A POLITICAL WIN (1), JESS RAVIN (1), KATIES EASY MOVES (1).

NATIONAL RANKINGS, 2-YEAR-OLDS

1. APOCALYPTICAL JESS (95)
2. MM FOURINTHEMORNING (84)
3. FLASH AND ROLL (69)
4. FLYING COWBOY 123 (65)
5. (tie) BLUE CORAZON (50)
5. (tie) WAVE HER DOWN (50)
7. IM JESS SPECIAL V (32)
8. (tie) LONG WAGON HO (25)
8. (tie) SUZE RETURNS (25)
10. LYNNDER 16 (20)

DANJER (8), WICKED AFFAIR (7), PAINT ME A SINNER (6), JESS FIRE CHICK (5), POWERFUL FAVORITE (4), COLE MAN 47 (2), KR HI FIVE (2), EAGLE COAST (1).

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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