Hooked N Gone and jockey Jesus Ayala capture the $53,856 AQHA Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge (G2) on August 14 at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–AUGUST 14, 2026–Veteran stakes runner Hooked N Gone returned to the winner's circle Friday evening, capturing the Grade 2 $53,856 AQHA Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge under jockey Jesus Ayala.

A homebred for Regina Laymon, Hooked N Gone is trained by John Hammes. The 6-year-old gelding improved his career record to 36-9-11-5 and boosted his earnings to $893,176.

Hooked N Gone entered the Championship Challenge following a runner-up effort in the Grade 3 Keokuk Stakes.

His accomplished stakes record includes victories in the Grade 2 Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge, Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes, Grade 1 Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby and Remington Park Juvenile Stakes.

Winning connections of Hooked N Gone.
© Jack Coady Photography

The Oklahoma-bred gelding is by PYC Paint Your Wagon and out of the Pretty Boy Perry mare Pretty Girl Kate.

Holy Pete and jockey Alfredo Triana Jr. finished second for owner Zane Kiehne and trainer John Stinebaugh. Bred by Bobby Simmons, the 4-year-old gelding was a $100,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate.

By champion sire Favorite Cartel, Holy Pete is out of stakes winner Suze Returns, by High Rate Of Return. He now owns a record of 18-7-4-3 with earnings of $234,520.

Holy Pete entered Friday's race following a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship Stakes. He won the Ruidoso Invitational Stakes last year.

Cardiac Cowboy crossed the wire third under Armando Alvidrez for owners Tom and Lou Ann Smith and Amber Olmstead. Trained by Jason Olmstead, the 5-year-old gelding now has a record of 33-13-3-6 with earnings of $481,279.

Bred by Jo Rice, Cardiac Cowboy was a $30,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. He is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Carters Cartel mare Southard Cartel. His female family includes world champion Empressum ($1,218,775) and champion Hes Judgeandjury ($2,016,522).

Ultimate Battle completed the order of finish. AJs Favorite La, Curls Magic Wagon and One Fabulous Boy were scratched.

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