Apolinaria Prize (#7) defeats Ima Sixy Man (#8) in the $58,718 AQHA Grants Pass Championship Challenge on Sunday at Grants Pass Downs.

© Vince & Linda Williams

GRANTS PASS, OR–SEPTEMBER 22, 2024–Graded stakes winner Apolinaria Prize got her first win of the year today when she defeated a full field in the $58,718 AQHA Grants Pass Championship Challenge at Grants Pass Downs.

Bouncing off a second-place effort in the August 18 trials, jockey Cristian Gonzalez guided the 5-year-old mare to a new win over Ima Sixy Man. The daughter of multiple stakes sire Fast Prize Cartel completed the 440 yards in 21.249 seconds, equaling a 104-speed index. She has won eight of 24 career starts.

Lorenzo Marquez-Campo trains the California-bred mare for owner Juan Manuel Marquez. EG High Desert Farms LLC bred the Apolinaria Prize from the Finding Nemo mare SS Calendar Girl.  The  $27,010 Championship winner's purse pushed her earnings to $190,829.

Today's victory also earned Apolinaria Prize, her second consecutive invite to the $265,000-estimated AQHA Challenge Championship [G1] at The Downs at Albuquerque on October 26.  Last year, she finished sixth in the Championship at Lone Star Park.

Her other stakes wins include the John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship(G2), AQHA Emerald Downs Championship Challenge, and John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge.

Runner-up Ima Sixy Man lugged out under jockey Jose Figueroa, earning $11,744 for second. Emilio Guerrero trains the 4-year-old son of leading sire Corona Cartel for owner Broadshorts Stables LLC. Bred in Oklahoma by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC, Ima Sixy Man is out of Jess So Sixy by Mr Jess Perry. He has earned $142,111.

A length behind the leaders, multiple stakes-placed One Famous Rock earned $5,872 for finishing third. Trainer Mark Hanson named jockey Erick Garcia to ride the 4-year-old One Famous Eagle gelding for owners RTM Stables, Kevin Dunn and Bryon Goody. 

Bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley, from the Oak Tree Special mare First Prize Joy, One Famous Rock has earned $62,575.

The Perfect Ferarri, Dc Ladys Dashn Eagle, Radar, Fast Movin Freight, Bee A Freight Train, and Jesstafiably Jess completed the field. The Rev Rocker scratched.