Bank Of America Challenge A Week Away

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Bank Of America Challenge A Week Away



LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA—OCTOBER 25, 2007—Six divisional championships for the top American Quarter Horses in the sport will headline the Bank of America Challenge Championships series next Saturday at Los Alamitos. This will be the 7th time in the 15-year history of the "Challenge", which is regarded as Quarter Horse racing's version of the Breeders' Cup, that Los Alamitos has hosted it. First post time for the Bank of America Challenge Championships is 7 p.m.

A total of 59 races take place in 11 regions across the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America throughout the year. American Quarter Horses compete in one of six different types of races, depending on their age and ability. The series culminate on November 3 with a title night featuring the six championship events, plus six undercard stakes races.

The marquee event on the evening is the Grade 1 $300,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship for older horses at 440 yards. The winner of this race will earn a berth to the $1 million Champion of Champions to be contested at Los Alamitos on December 15. World Champions to have won the Bank of America Challenge
Championship include Tailor Fit, Streakin Sin Tacha, SLM Big Daddy and Down With Debt.

Strawkins Has Advantages in Grade 1 $300,000 rich Bank of America Championship

Reigning champion 3-year-old gelding Strawkins appears to have the advantages in the $300,000 Bank Of America Challenge Championship (G1) November 3 at Los Alamitos. The 440-yard Bank Of America Challenge Championship is the headline event of the Bank Of America Challenge Championships. Don and Peggy Boyle's Strawkins (Hawkinson-Shirleys Strawfly, Strawfly Special) hails from the powerful stable of five-time defending national training champion Paul Jones, is racing on a familiar track at Los Alamitos and has proven himself against top-shelf Grade 1 stakes company.

Last year, as a 3-year-old, Strawkins set the Ruidoso Downs 440-yard track record and scored his most important win during his championship season when he dominated the $450,000 Rainbow Derby (G1) at Ruidoso Downs. He was then second in the Los Alamitos Championship behind champion Apollitical Time and third in the All American Derby (G1) after being bumped at the start and dealing with an off track.

This year, Strawkins has made two starts and should be in strong form for the Bank of America Challenge Championship. He returned from an eight-month layoff to win the Bank Of America California Challenge and finished fifth in the Los Alamitos Championship as the favorite and stumbling at the start.

Louisiana-invader Angelas Toast (Toast to Dash-Osceolas Angelas, Osceola Warrior) looks to step forward after finishing fourth in the Go Man Go Invitational (G1) in his only start outside of Louisiana. He was sent off at 11-1 odds in the Go Man Go and was never a factor while being defeated by champions FDD Dynasty and Leading Spirit.

Donna King's LDS Dash For Dylan (Dashing Cleat-LDS Good Goin Gracie, Proudest Effort) is also trying to rebound after an off-the-board effort in the Go Man Go. The Bret Vickery-trained gelding adores 440 yards and qualified for the Bank Of America Challenge Championship by shipping to Boise, Idaho, and easily winning the Bank Of America Northwest Challenge (G2) at 7-10 odds.

Sweatshirt Giveaway

Los Alamitos will also conduct a sweatshirt giveaway on-track on the night of Bank of America Challenge Championship to patrons with a paid nighttime admission while supplies last. The navy sweatshirt will feature the Challenge logo on the back.

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Bank Of America Challenge Post Position Draw Set Wednesday


LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA—OCTOBER 29, 2007—Los Alamitos will host a Special post-position draw brunch at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday morning for Saturday’s running of the 15th annual Bank of America Challenge Championships. The draw brunch will take place in the Finish Line Room at Los Alamitos.

Media members, horsemen and the general public are invited to attend the draw brunch, which will be hosted by Los Alamitos track announcer Ed Burgart. AQHA Racing Challenge Senior Manager Darrell Hare and AQHA Assistant Manager of Marketing Services Matt Darby will also be in attendance for the draw brunch.

Post positions will be assigned for the $300,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship; the $200,000 Bayer Legend Derby Challenge; the $150,000 Ford Juvenile Challenge; the $100,000 John Deere Distaff Challenge; the $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge; and the $75,000 Fort Dodge Claiming Challenge.