Republic Anne (#9), under jockey Martin Osuna, holds off Garavani (#11) in the $65,624 Q-Racing Video Arizona Distaff Challenge Saturday at Arizona Downs.

© Coady Photography

PRESCOTT VALLEY, AZ – SEPTEMBER 3, 2022 – Republic Anne earned a berth in this year’s Challenge Championship with a win in the $65,624 Q-Racing Video Arizona Downs Distaff Challenge on Saturday afternoon.

The 4-year-old filly defeated Garavani and Elegant Tres in her first start in a Challenge race and earned the winner’s share of $30,187.

Republic Anne ($6.80) and Martin Osuna finished the 400-yard event in :19.689 and earned a 104 speed index.  

The winning connections of Republic Anne accept the Q-Racing Video Arizona Distaff Challenge stakes trophy on Saturday. © Coady Photography

Bobby Cox bred the filly in Texas, out of First Fancy Racy, by Carters Cartel. Republic Anne’s sire, Apollitical Jess, is current leading sire by money earned in 2022.

Republic Anne is trained by Edwin Martinez for owner Jose Antonio De Santiago. She is six for 23 lifetime with earnings of $116,632.

In her most recent start, she was second in the Arizona Downs Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes. In December, she won the AQRA Turf Paradise Quarter Horse Derby and was third in the Balloon City Stakes (G3) at Albuquerque last summer.

Garavani nearly pulled off an upset, finishing a neck behind the winner at odds of 34-1.

Aaron Belloc was aboard for trainer Amy Nelson and owner Ricardo Ramirez; the same connections finished third in the Arizona Downs Futurity in the previous race on the card.

Garavani is three for 17 in her career and has earned $63,646. In April, she qualified to the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby at Turf Paradise. She debuted at Los Alamitos and also raced at Ruidoso as a 2-year-old.

The 3-year-old daughter of First Down Dash was bred in Texas by Bobby Cox, out of Celtic Emblem, by Apollitical Jess.

Elegant Tres and Jose Leon were involved in the photo finish and placed third by a neck.

Trained by Lillian Silva for Resilient Farms, Elegant Tres has earned $48,003 in 16 starts in Texas and New Mexico before shipping to Arizona for the Challenge qualifier. She qualified to the Sam Houston Juvenile Challenge (G3) as a 2-year-old.

Completing the field were Jess Zoomin Senator, Abc Nalaki, Too Sass for You, World Famous Mia, First Lady Perry, and Run Away and Hide. Abbyslovintherain and Lew Lew Belle were scratched.