ALTOONA, IA—AUGUST 15, 2020—In the last of four regional Challenge qualifiers at Prairie Meadows on Saturday, Eagles Fly Higher dominated the field in the $56,007 Bank of America Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge (G2).

Multiple graded stakes winner Eagles Fly Higher ($3.80) was a heavy post-time favorite for trainer Casey Black. Cristian Esqueda guided the 4-year-old colt to a nearly two-length victory in 21.249 for a 111 speed index at 440 yards.

Eagles Fly Higher is owned by Darling Farms and was bred in Oklahoma by V.H. Harman Jr. and Robert Moudy III. He is by One Famous Eagle and is out of the First Down Dash mare Lone Bet.

In his previous start, Eagles Fly Higher finished second to Danjer in the Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge (G3). He won the Sooner State (G1) and Eastex Stakes (G2) at Remington this spring. Among his numerous additional stakes appearances is a second-place finish in the Texas Classic Futurity (G1) in 2018. He has earned $430,741 in his 20 career starts.

Eagles Fly Higher also picked up an invite to the $250,000-est. Bank of America Challene Championship(G1) to be contested October 24th during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Charlies Fury and Agustin Silva led the charge for second place, defeating Heza Blues Man by a neck at the wire.

Charlies Fury is trained by Michelle Hurdle for owners and breeders Tom and Kathleen McNally. He was bred in Oklahoma by Furyofthewind, out of Jess Charlena, by Take Off Jess.

The accomplished 4-year-old gelding has earned $232,236 in his career to date. As a 3-year-old, he won the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge and finished second in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3) at Albuquerque. He was third in the Heritage Place Derby (G3) and earlier this year, he was second in the Boyd Morris Memorial at Remington.

Heza Blues Man and Ramiro Garcia were up for third for trainer and owner John Hammes. The 4-year-old gelding was bred in California by Steve Burns, DVM, by Favorite Cartel and out of Eyesa Blues Girl, by Mr Eye Opener.

In 2019, Heza Blues Man qualified to the Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1), the Canterbury Park Derby, Iowa Double Gold Derby and the Altoona Derby. He competed in the Bank of America Canterbury Park Championship Challenge (G3) prior to Saturday’s qualifier.

Completing the field were Three Olives N Smoke, Fast Flash Gordon, Faster Than Hasta and Df Lord Garvan.