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Championship Night Lights Up Albuquerque Downs With Elite Fields And $265,000 Feature
By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025—All eyes in the Quarter Horse racing world will be on Albuquerque Downs this weekend, as the track hosts one of the most prestigious events on the calendar: Championship Night, headlined by the $265,000 Grade 1 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship. A star-studded ten-race card is on tap, with qualifiers and stakes winners from across the nation descending upon the New Mexico oval for a shot at glory.

Qualifiers have battled through regional Challenge events all year to earn their spots in these elite finals. The stakes are high, the fields are deep, and the sport’s top equine and human athletes are ready for the ...


Challenge Championships: First Famous Prize Knows About Consistency, Like Her Trainer Taught Her

By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025–Veteran trainer Buckey Stockwell of Camrose, Alberta, is set to saddle First Famous Prize in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) this coming Saturday, October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque ...



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Challenge Championships: Wynnchester Is Making Sure Everybody Has Fun
Courtesy AQHA Racing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 16, 2025–Wynnchester is pointing to Saturday's Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge (G1) with a deep support team behind him.

While he comes into the race off a rallying win in the $26,554 Q-Racing Video Will Rogers Distance Challenge in late September, which will likely garner him popularity with the betting public, his biggest group of supporters is likely ...



Challenge Championships: Flyin Summer and Shaundas Eagle are Representing Family Ties
Courtesy AQHA Racing

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 15, 2025– Representing the Intermountain and West Coast in Saturday's John Deere Juvenile Challenge during the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque, Flyin Summer is also representing the power of family in the American Quarter Horse racing industry. The bay filly was bred by Darling Farms and ...


Two Two 22 Surges Late to Win Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge
By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 28, 2025–Two Two 22 showed grit and determination in Sunday’s $53,014 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge, closing with a furious late kick to earn his first career stakes victory.

Despite hopping from the gates and losing ground early, the bay gelding dug in under jockey Mario Delgado to chase down Ketzal at the wire, scoring by a half-length. He stopped the clock for the 400-yard distance in 19.616 seconds, earning a 102 speed index. The effort ...


Alliekat Dynasty Captures Grade 3 Cox Ranch Will Rogers Distaff Challenge
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 28, 2025—Alliekat Dynasty turned in a sharp effort on Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs, surging to victory in the Grade 3, $36,660 Cox Ranch Will Rogers Distaff Challenge, a 400-yard test for AQHA Challenge-enrolled fillies and mares three and older.

The 4-year-old daughter of five-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Pollitical Scorpion, by Apollitical Jess, broke alertly under jockey Roman Cruz and never looked back, stopping the timer in 19.832 seconds against a strong 8-mph tailwind, earning a 96 speed index. ...


Wynnchester Rallies Late For First Stakes Win In Q-Racing Will Rogers Distance Challenge-G3
By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 28, 2025–Wynnchester finally broke through at the stakes level on Sunday afternoon, scoring a determined head victory in the $26,554 Q-Racing Will Rogers Distance Challenge-G3.

With Mario Delgado in the irons, Wynnchester stopped the clock in 46.045 seconds for 870 yards, earning a 93 speed index. The  870-yard win was worth $13,012 for owner Lucky Ladies. Sent off at 5-1 ...


Kowboy Boogie Scores in $36,660 John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

CLAREMORE, OK—SEPTEMBER 28, 2025—Fastest qualifier Kowboy Boogie delivered on his promise Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs, capturing the Grade 3 $36,660 John Deere Will Rogers Juvenile Challenge over 350 yards for AQHA Challenge-enrolled 2-year-olds.

Under jockey Bryan Candanosa, the bay ...


Cowgurl Up Prevails in Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—SEPTEMBER 27, 2025—Cowgurl Up surged late under jockey Raul Hernandez, Jr. to capture the $28,261 Cox Ranch Lone Star Distaff Challenge at 400 yards for AQHA Challenge-enrolled fillies and mares three years old and up.

The sorrel daughter of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 stopped the timer in 19.671 seconds, earning a 94 speed index with a 2 mph crosswind on a fast track.

With the victory, Cowgurl Up also earned a coveted berth ...


Paige Prevails in Cox Ranch New Mexico Distaff Challenge at The Downs at Albuquerque
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 26, 2025—Paige surged in the final yards to capture the $52,266 Cox Ranch New Mexico Distaff Challenge on Friday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque, edging rival Amber Alerrt in a thrilling finish at 400 yards. ...


Challenge Stakes Spotlight Sunday At Will Rogers Downs
By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 26, 2025–Sunday afternoon’s card at Will Rogers Downs will showcase four major American Quarter Horse Association Challenge races, each offering added purse money and coveted berths into the national finals at Albuquerque on October 18. The action runs from races seven through ten, highlighted by the $20,000-added (G3) AQHA Distance Challenge, the $20,000-added ...


Cowgurl Up Headlines $28,611 Cox Ranch Lone Star Park Distaff Challenge Stakes
By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

GRANDPRAIRIE, TX–SEPTEMBER 22, 2025–Saturday night’s feature at Lone Star Park will be the $28,611 guaranteed Cox Ranch Lone Star Park Distaff Challenge Stakes, carded as race three. The event draws a competitive field of fillies and mares three years old and upward, all set to contest the 400-yard distance. In addition to the purse, the winner will earn a berth to the Cox Ranch Distaff Championship Challenge Stakes finals on ...


Aj Gold Heart Tops Field In $30,000 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Regional Finals
By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–September 21, 2025–The Friday, September 26 card at Downs at Albuquerque will feature a full slate of stakes and trials. The program includes seven trials for the La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity, three for the La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby. It will conclude with the day’s highlight, the $30,000-added Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Regional Finals.

A field of ten fillies and mares, three years and older, will line up at 400 yards for a berth in the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship finals on October 18.

Installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite is Aj Gold Heart, a four-year-old mare ...


Handin Out Candy Prevails in $60,000 Q Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge (G2)
By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2025—Handin Out Candy dug in gamely through the final yards to prevail in the $60,000 Q Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge (G2) at Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday, turning back the late surge of West Tx Rain by a neck.

The Grade 2 event, run at 870 yards for AQHA Challenge-enrolled 3-year-olds and older, was contested over a fast track under clear skies with a crosswind of six miles per hour. The 6-year-old gelding completed the distance in 45.367, ...