CHALLENGE RESULTS AT PRAIRIE MEADOWS FRIDAY NIGHT

COURTESY OF STALLIONESEARCH.COM


Williams Wins Ford Juvenile Central Challenge at Prairie Meadows


PRAIRIE MEADOWS, ALTOONA, IA—-AUGUST 10, 2007—-Williams Racing Stable snared a sixth stakes victory at Prairie Meadows as 2-year-old gelding WRS Leading Edge secured Friday's first race, the $42,030 Ford Juvenile Central Challenge, in the opening leg of the Bank of America Central Challenge Championship.
The victory by WRS Leading Edge, along with those of the other two Bank of America winners on Friday qualify them a spot in the starting gate during the 2007 Bank of America Challenge Championships & AQHA Racing Conference at Los Alamitos, California, from Oct 31-Nov 3, 2007.

Trainer Charlton Hunt assigned Randy Wilson on the son of Mr Eye Opener for Williams Racing Stables owner Gwen Williams.

WRS Leading Edge earned the second win of his career, in front by a nose in 17.78 at the conclusion of 350 yards. Second place finisher Snow Burn, one of four fillies in the field, made a powerful rush from eighth place under jockey Tad Leggett. Mister Jess Legacy was third.

"[My son] Eric has a business, Leading Edge, so that's where the name came from," said winning owner Gwen Williams. "He's more like Mr Ollie Te. Except, they say he's not actually as mean. He's very talented, very fast, and we think he's going to be a really good horse for us. He didn't do too good the first couple outs. He was kind of slow to get going, but he's got a lot of speed. We think he's going to be really good. We're excited about him."

"He'll get away from the gate better in the future," said Williams' husband, Randy Williams. "Then he'll be hard to outrun. We're looking forward to the [Grade II] Valley Junction."

WRS Leading Edge commanded the second lowest odds on the board to return $7.60, $3.20, and $2.60 on win, place, and show. Shaconage brushed betting favorite Classy Dashin at the break, and those two finished at the back of the field.

WRS Leading Edge is out of the same mare as half-sibling WRS Special Shoe, the morning line's second favorite in Saturday's Bank of America Central Championship Challenge. He earned $21,015 of the Ford Juvenile purse valued at $42,030.

The Winner's stablemate, WRS Sweet Date, ran fifth. She Rodney Von Ohlen's First Class Smarty, trained by Edward Ross Hardy, holds the stakes record in :17.65, which he set in 2006.

Official order of finish: WRS Leading Edge, Snow Burn, Mister Jess Legacy, Mr La Bubba, WRS Sweet Date, Im Gone for a Corona, Lord Gardendale, Captain Stoli, Shaconage, Classy Dashin.

First to Ramble Notches Third Prairie Meadows Victory
In Red Cell Central Distance Challenge

Pat and Walt Fletcher's First To Ramble, a 6-year-old gelding by First Down Dash, strung together his sixth straight honors in Friday's $19,980 Red Cell Central Distance Challenge. As the post time favorite, he did so in 45.07 seconds, which crushed the stakes record he set in 2005 in :45.46.

He set sail early from the fifth spot in the starting gate and maintained a 2-1/2 length advantage around the hook at 870 yards [104-SI] while giving jockey Randy Wilson a back-to-back visit to Friday's Bank of America win circle. GHF Kool Kotton led the remaining order of finish followed by a length back to A Dasha Red.

The win was trainer Charley Hunt's tenth, leading the roster in first place since the Prairie Meadows season began on July 10. Hunt's son, Charlton Hunt, is currently in second place with eight wins.

"The way he's been running," said Hunt of First to Ramble, "he won the [$35,000] handicap at Remington this year. When he gets to the lead, he's hard to get by. He'll go to California. In about a month we'll send him out there to get ready for the Challenge."

First to Ramble earned $10,989 of the Red Cell purse, which brings his current career earnings to $190,133. Walt Fletcher and Vessels Stallion Farm LLC are listed together on the horse's breeding record.

Official order of finish: First to Ramble, GHF Kool Kotton, A Dasha Red, Run Donnie Run, Tee Zevi.

Okie Dokie Annie Rallies in John Deere Central Distaff Challenge

Okie Dokie Annie took advantage of a late running style in Friday's $28,980 John Deere Central Distaff Challenge. At 5-1 odds, the 3-year-old daughter of Okey Dokey Dale pressured from sixth place at 400 yards and cracked the 100-Speed Index in 19.72 seconds under jockey Helen Vanek.

The Fletcher charge, Ima Ramblin Girl, led into the stretch to win the second place battle away from Miles of Knud Chicks.

Trainer Larry Sharp foaled the Missouri-bred and he conditions her for owner Duane Murphy.

Okie Dokie Annie earned $14,635 of the John Deere purse, which brings her current earnings to $68,129.

Official order of finish: Okie Dokey Annie, Ima Ramblin Girl, Miles of Knud Chicks, SLM Rac a Frac, Nanas Nite Mare, Corona Three, Going To The Hague, First Black Rose, Bold Like Magic. Late scratches: Eyem Naughty N Nice, JA Fast Lady.

Robert Hart's Lady Tenaya holds the John Deere Central Distaff Challenge stakes record, which she set in 2002 in :19.66.