The Champion of Champion is set with a star studded line up for Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Los Alamitos

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–DECEMBER 8, 2025—The prestigious Grade I, $700,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos stands as one of Quarter Horse racing’s most celebrated events, and this year’s edition has drawn a powerhouse lineup.

Ten elite runners—each earning their place through major victories across the country—will break from the gate on Saturday, December 13th, set to contest the classic 440 yards for one of the sport’s most coveted titles.

The field, in no particular order, includes Unrelentless, Hooked N Gone, Empressum, Jeriko, Norco, Hott Temptation, FDD Dreams, RC Corona King, Stanley Cartel, and Scoops Dynasty.

Stanley Cartel enters as one of the top contenders after a remarkable season that included victories in both the Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship and the Vessels Maturity, each offering automatic berths to this race.

Sired by Pyc Paint Your Wagon and out of First Prize Fancy by Mr Jess Perry, the multiple graded stakes winner was bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley and races for Dunn Ranch and Weetona Stanley. This prestigious championship event will be the final start of his career before he begins stallion duties at Dunn Ranch.

Joining him as a significant threat is the veteran gelding Scoops Dynasty, whose 2025 campaign has been one of his best yet. He has earned more than $200,000 this season alone with a career total now reaching $810,542.

Scoops Dynasty has captured the Turf Paradise Championship Challenge, the Grade I Go Man Go Handicap, and the Grade I AQHA Challenge Championship. The FDD Dynasty gelding—out of Bye Sweet Girl, by Dashin Bye—was bred in Idaho by his owner Edward J. McNelis and is also owned by Von Zae McNelis.

Defending champion Empressum returns with an exceptional résumé. The multiple Champion of Champions winner, who captured the 2022 and 2024 edition and finished second in 2023, will try to tie Refrigerator's record as the only three-time winner.

Though winless in his three 2025 outings, the son of Apollitical Jess has been consistently strong this season, finishing second in the Grade I Go Man Go, the Grade I Robert L. Boniface Invitational Championship, and the Z Wayne Griffin Director’s Stakes.

Reliance Ranches, LLC will send out a talented pair: Unrelentless and Hott Temptation, both conditioned by Eddie D. Willis.

Unrelentless, a four-year-old stallion by Hes Relentless, secured his berth with a victory in the Grade I Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship. His sire, a champion in his own right, won five of eight starts at Los Alamitos, adding depth to the stallion’s pedigree power.

Hott Temptation, the lone filly in the lineup, made headlines earlier this year when she won the Grade I Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap, becoming only the fifth three-year-old filly ever to do so. The daughter of Tempting Dash boasts a championship-rich pedigree as a full sister to significant stakes winner Hotsempting and a half-sister to millionaire champion Hotstepper.

Hooked N Gone, a five-year-old gelding son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon owned by Regina Laymon, has long been admired for his determination. He returned in peak form to capture the Grade I Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship, improving on a third-place finish in that race last year.

FDD Dreams, a millionaire New Mexico-bred representing La Feliz Montana Ranch, adds major firepower. The son of FDD Dynasty's résumé includes the Grade I All American Derby, Grade I Ruidoso Derby, and the 2024 Grade I Texas Classic Futurity, marking him as one of the most accomplished horses in the field.

Norco, a three-year-old gelding son of Favorite Cartel bred and campaigned by Edward C. Allred, punched his ticket by winning the Super Derby. With three wins from nine starts and earnings of $438,773, he enters in sharp form.

Jeriko, a five-year-old gelding by One Famous Eagle, is owned and bred by AQHA Hall of Fame owner Bobby D. Cox. Recently crowned AQHA Supreme Racehorse, he is a multiple Grade I winner and most recently scored in the Z Wayne Griffin Director’s Stakes.

RC Corona King, the final entrant, brings depth and consistency from the Southwest. The New Mexico-bred five-year-old son of Eye Am King has won multiple graded stakes, including the Grade I Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship and the Grade II Red Or Green Stakes, and races for owner Jose R. Riojas.

As one of the most historic and celebrated races in Quarter Horse history, the 2025 Champion of Champions promises a thrilling finish to the season. Fans across the country will be watching closely as these stars collide on one of racing’s biggest stages.

Be sure to follow Stallionesearch’s Greg Thompson and Bailey Ivey, who will be trackside at Los Alamitos to capture every moment for the Stallionesearch Weekly Podcast, providing in-depth coverage of one of the year’s most anticipated events.

The Los Alamitos races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.