Shaundas Eagle won big at Emerald Downs to qualify to the Challenge Championships.

© Emerald Downs

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 is by champion stallion Eagles Fly Higher and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Painted Summer – a mare who lit the board in a Grade 1 and earned $120,629 in her career.

It’s a powerful equine family, but Flyin Summer is also representing her human family, including owner Larry Jones. His nephew, Daren K. Jones, will saddle his uncle’s horse and will also be saddling Shaundas Eagle for his parents, Kent and Linda Jones, in the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1). The family is also racing several horses in the undercard races.

The family keeps their horses at their family farm about 40 miles east of Salt Lake City, Utah, and they all spend quality time together doing chores, exercising and caring for their horses. Daren is not a full-time trainer, but headed to Albuquerque with their full trailer of horses, and the family is expecting to join him on this week’s adventure.

Flyin Summer has experience at four tracks in her six-race career, so a new track surface will surely not be a problem. In her most recent start she was fourth, nipped for third, in the John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge.

"She’s a nice horse, and she’s improving each race," Larry said. "I’m excited as all get out to make the Championships."

Shaundas Eagle is related to Flyin Summer, as the 5-year-old gelding is by One Fabulous Eagle, who like Eagles Fly Higher is also by One Famous Eagle. Earlier this year, he went up against Scoop Dynasty and KJ Desparado in the AQHA Racing Turf Paradise Challenge, finishing a gallant third, and then won the Emerald Downs regional stakes.

The family has enjoyed their hobby together, and take great satisfaction in it, as they surely will enjoy attending the AQHA Racing Challenge Championships.

"It’s just a ball for me," Larry said. "We’re around the horses all the time. There’s nothing purtier than a horse in shape."

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