Preview Racing


Bank of America Challenge Championships Set for Saturday
Danjer is one of five graded stakes winner set to start in the 440-yard $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) on Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Photography
Bank of America Challenge Championships Set for Saturday

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 22, 2020—Five graded stakes, headed by the 440-yard, $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1), will be contested during Saturday’s Bank of America Challenge Championships program at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Post time for the first race is set for 4:10 p.m. (MDT).

Following is a preview of all five graded stakes, listed in the order they will be run:

Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1)

Madewell, a homebred 6-year-old son of Jess Jones owned by Ray Madewell and Davy Madewell, drew post 4 for Saturday’s 870-yard, $100,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship (G1).

Madewell has won his last three starts, including the August 23, $55,000 Cox Ranch Albuquerque Distance Challenge (G3). The gelding will be ridden by Benito Baca for trainer Bernard Baca.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. Edelman (Ramiro Garcia), 10-1
  2. Higher Flyin Eagle (Daniel Amaya), 7-2
  3. High On Chablis (Berkley Packer), 10-1
  4. Madewell (Benito Baca), 3-1
  5. SW Bullet Proof (Jesus Valenzuela), 20-1
  6. Illtakeyouforaride (Kelsi Purcell), 9-2
  7. Ms Esther (Andrew Samaniego), 4-1
  8. CM Once Ina Bluemoon (Luis F. Gonzalez), 4-1
  9. AE-Nicos First Cartel (Miguel A. Perez), 20-1
  10. AE-Eyesa Superstitious (Alejandro Medellin), 20-1

Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3)

Jess My Hocks, a homebred Kiss My Hocks gelding campaigned by Tom and Kathleen McNally, is the 3-1 morning-line favorite for Saturday’s 400-yard, $150,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) for 3-year-olds.

Jess My Hocks will be make his local debut off of a dominating 3 1/2-length victory in the October 4, $41,000 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge at Will Rogers Downs. An earner of $75,607 from seven outs this season, the gelding was a finalist in the 400-yard, $232,000 Heritage Place Derby (G2) at Remington Park on May 30.

Jess My Hocks drew post 8 and will be ridden by Mario Delgado for trainer Jordan Baumann.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. Luchador (Esgar Ramirez), 7-2
  2. Apollitical Barbie (Kelsi Purcell), 10-1
  3. Light Footed (Ricardo Moreno), 4-1
  4. Juice Is Loose (Berkley Packer), 8-1
  5. A Painted Dynasty (Alfredo Sigala), 8-1
  6. Mott The Hopple (Agustin Silva), 20-1
  7. Mister Tornado (Sergio G. Dominguez), 10-1
  8. Jess My Hocks (Mario Delgado), 3-1
  9. Dr Tool (Jesus Valenzuela), 15-1
  10. Astranomical (Ramiro H. Garcia), 8-1
  11. AE-Divas First Moon (Brett Birzer), 20-1

John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2)

Bad Monkey, a homebred son of Capo de Capi owned and trained by Dean R. Frey, is one of 11 2-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 350-yard, $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2).

Raced in Minnesota, New Mexico and Texas, Bad Monkey has won three of six races, including the August 15, $89,000 John Deere Ruidoso Juvenile Challenge (G3) at Ruidoso Downs, and he has earned $76,401. The gelding was a finalist in the 400-yard, $364,000 Dash For Cash Futurity (G1) at Lone Star Park on September 27.

Bad Monkey drew post 4 and will be ridden by Benito Baca.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

  1. Cartel Creek (Esgar Ramirez), 20-1
  2. Flight Club (Ricardo Moreno), 8-1
  3. Purty Darn Quick (Ramiro H. Garcia), 8-1
  4. Bad Monkey (Benito Baca), 3-1
  5. Summon (Carlos Guillen-Chacon), 15-1
  6. Tres A Jess (Sergio G. Dominguez), 5-1
  7. Isa Super Freak (Alejandro Medellin), 8-1
  8. JC Wild King (Mario Delgado), 5-1
  9. Louisiana Bunny (Luis F. Gonzalez), 7-2
  10. Charlies Fast Man (Hector Aldrete), 12-1
  11. AE-Jess Good Enough (Cody Smith), 20-1
Awards Recognition Concepts Distaff Challenge Championship (G1)

Ten fillies and mares, headed by morning-line favorite Splendid Cause, are entered in Saturday’s 400-yard, $100,000 Awards Recognition Concepts Distaff Challenge Championship (G1).

A 5-year-old daughter of world champion Apollitical Jess trained by Clint Crawford for owner Kelly/Yother Equine LLC, Splendid Cause has won her last two outs, the 350-yard, $15,000 Belles Stakes at Fair Meadows at Tulsa on June 27, and the 400-yard Awards Recognition Will Rogers Distaff Challenge on October 4. The homebred mare has banked $60,353 from seven races this season.

Splendid Cause drew post 4 and will be ridden by Cody Smith.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. The Polar Vortex (Benito Baca), 9-2
  2. Getit Hot (Ricardo Moreno), 10-1
  3. Lynnder 16 (Berkley Packer), 7-2
  4. Splendid Cause (Cody Smith), 5-2
  5. JR Prissys Blood (Jesus Valenzuela), 6-1
  6. Fosse (Mario Delgado), 15-1
  7. El Oh El (Brett Birzer), 12-1
  8. Loco Ocho (Mauro Salcedo), 8-1
  9. Lovely Cuvee (Augstin Silva), 10-1
  10. Duck Dash N Go (Esgar Ramirez), 20-1

Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1)

Danjer, a Grade 1-winning 4-year-old son of champion FDD Dynasty, will make his second start at The Downs at Albuquerque in Saturday’s 440-yard, $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1).

Racing for Downtime Enterprises LLC, Billy G. Smith, and trainer Dean Frey, Danjer is coming off of a neck victory as the 7-5 favorite in the 440-yard, $300,000 Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1) on September 20. The homebred brown gelding’s season record also includes a second-place finish, a neck behind winner Dexxter, in the 440-yard, $125,000 All American Gold Cup (G1) at Ruidoso Downs on September 6.

Danjer drew post 10 and will be ridden by Cody Smith.

The winner of this race will earn a berth in the December 12, $600,000 Champion of Champions (G1) at Los Alamitos Racecourse. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments and morning-line odds:

  1. Stripsteak (Ricardo Moreno), 5-1
  2. Eagles Fly Higher (Mario Delgado), 7-2
  3. Charlies Fury (Agustin Silva), 12-1
  4. Heza Blues Man (Ramiro H. Garcia), 20-1
  5. Pirate Coves Hero (Albert Medrano), 15-1
  6. Frog Nation (Carlos Guillen-Chacon), 9-2
  7. Jesstifiably Jess (Luis F. Gonzalez), 12-1
  8. Mi Amor Secreto (Alfredo Sigala), 10-1
  9. Walcott (Mauro Salcedo), 20-1
  10. Danjer (Cody Smith), 5-2

The Downs at Albuquerque’s 10-race program includes five undercard stakes: the 870-yard, $35,000 Sandia Stakes for 3-year-olds and older; the 350-yard, $35,000 Albuquerque Juvenile Stakes for 2-year-olds; the 400-yard, $40,000 Lobo Derby for 3-year-olds; the 400-yard, $40,000 Pitre GMC Distaff Stakes for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older; and the 440-yard, $40,000 Downs Casino Stakes for 3-year-olds and older.

All Downs at Albuquerque races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.