The American Quarter Horse Racing Journal, October 29, 2009 – Well-seasoned veterans, including the 10-year-old Santispac, are going to be contentious in the $75,000 Fort Dodge Starter Allowance Challenge Championship at the Bank of America Challenge Championships on October 31 at Los Alamitos Race Course. One of the goals for the Bank of America Challenge from its inception has been to provide opportunities for older horses.
The Fort Dodge Challenge Starter Allowance Challenge Championship is for horses who have competed for a claiming price of $5,000 or less in the past year.
Owned and trained by Danny Montes, Santispac (Splash Bac-Sand Spit by Hez Class) returns to Los Alamitos after winning at SunRay Park in New Mexico. He has 63 career starts and has been on the board in each of his three 2009 starts.
The K.C. Carden-trained 9-year-old Strike Light (Strawfly Special-Classic Lisa by A Classic Dash) won at the $5,000 claiming level at Remington Park three starts ago and comes off a daylight win for a $7,500 claiming price. Owned by S Bar S, the gelding has made 46 lifetime starts with 10 wins.
Gilbert Ramirez’s 8-year-old Safehaven (Heza Fast Man-Wicked Pamela by Dash For Cash) has raced to two wins and two seconds in his six starts this year, primarily in New Mexico. He has wins at the $8,000-$12,500 claiming range this year. He has finished on the board in 21 of 48 career starts.
The $75,000 Fort Dodge Starter Allowance Challenge Championship is scheduled as the 11th race on the card. Following are the post positions and morning-line odds of the field:
1. Eye Zoom Too 20-1
2. Victorys Wicked Lad 5-1
3. Looks Like A Dart 10-1
4. Willie Swings 2-1
5. Dashing Strawfly 8-1
6. Eyesa High 12-1
7. Mister Jess Legacy 10-1
8. Safehaven 12-1
9. Strike Light 20-1
10. Santispac 3-1
The Bank of America Racing Challenge began in 1993 and since that time has distributed more than $52 million to breeders and owners of racing American Quarter Horses. 2009 marks the 17th year of the program with 71 regional, championship and undercard races. There is $5 million in total purses and awards for 2009, thanks to corporate partners, host tracks, horsemen and the Bank of America Racing Challenge Purse Fund. The Bank of America Racing Challenge was created to increase racing opportunities for older racing American Quarter Horses, but the benefit of nominating is often seen in the sale ring where Challenge-enrolled horses have historically brought more money.
The Bank of America Racing Challenge is the richest and most successful program in American Quarter Horse racing today – a championship series developed for the “World’s Fastest Horse.” The Bank of America Racing Challenge will culminate with the six Challenge Championship races and six undercard Challenge stakes races on Saturday, October 31, at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, California. To learn more about the Bank of America Racing Challenge, visit racing.aqha.com/racing/challenge/index.aspx.