Champion of Champions (horse race)

Last updated
Champion of Champions
Grade 1 race
Location Los Alamitos Race Course
Cypress, California, USA
Inaugurated1972
Race type Quarter Horse
Race information
Distance440 Yards (1/4 Mile)
SurfaceDirt
TrackStraight
Qualification3-year-olds and Up
PurseUS$750,000

The Champion of Champions is a stakes race annually held at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California. It is the championship race for Quarter Horses.

Contents

The field is determined by the winners of qualifying races held around the United States. [1] The races currently are:

The two fastest times in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials receive the last two berths. The winner of the Go Man Go Handicap qualifies as the first alternate if one of the qualifying race winners does not compete. [1]

The Champion of Champion was not held in 2014 due to concerns over the widespread use of clenbuterol, a drug not permitted at Los Alamitos. [2]

Records

Speed record:

Most wins by a jockey:

Most wins by a trainer:

Most wins by a horse:

Winners of the Champion of Champions

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2022EmpressumRodrigo VallejoHeath TaylorJeff Jones and Steve Holt21.089
2021Apollitical PenceArmando CervantesMonty ArrosaDunn Ranch21.352
2020Apollitical PenceRaul ValenzuelaJohn CooperDunn Ranch and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC21.442
2019He Looks HotVinny BednarScott WilloughbyEd Allred21.38
2018Bodacious EagleCody JensenJustin JoinerJohnny Trotter21.472
2017My Pyc To YouCarlos M. HuertaJose Antonio FloresFlores, Jose Antonio, Van Amburgh, Denise and Van Amburgh, Ronald21.61
2016Zoomin For SpudsJesus AylalaMonty ArrossaJim Walker21.30
2015 Heza Dasha Fire Cruz Mendez Jose Antonio Flores S-Quarter K LLC 21.20
2014not run
2013 Last to Fire Eduardo Nicasio Jose De La Torre Jesus Avila & Jesus Cuevas 21.10
2012 Rylees Boy Ramon Sanchez Paul Jones Lorena Velazquez Rodriguez 21.38
2011 Good Reason SA Eduardo Nicasio Paul Jones Gianni Samaja 21.44
2010 Apollitical Jess Eduardo Nicasio Juan Aleman Rancho El Cabresto 20.939
2009 Freaky Francisco Rubio Adan Farias Armando Aguirre 21.06
2008 Jess You and I Alejandro Luna Jamie Gomez Double Bar S Ranch :20.94
2007 Blues Girl Too Saul Ramirez Joe Bassett Lucky Seven Ranch :21.13
2006 Wave Carver Ramon Sanchez Paul Jones Vaughn Cook, Dan Lucas, Muller Racing and Vessels Stallion Farm:21.18
2005 Ocean Runaway Alex Bautista Denny Ekins Muller Racing LLC :21.20
2004 Cash For Kas G. R. Carter Paul Jones E.D. Calvert :21.28
2003 The Down Side Ramon Sanchez Paul Jones Johnny T.L. Jones, R.D. Hubbard and Toby Keith :21.19
2002 Whosleavingwho Joe Badilla Paul Jones Jim Geiler and Kim Kessinger :21.27
2001 Tailor Fit Alvin Brossette Janet VanBebber Betty Jane Burlin :21.47
2000 A Ransom Carlos BautistaConnie Hall John and Kathie Bobenrieth :21.46
1999 Tailor Fit Steve FullerSteve VanBebber Betty Jane Burlin :21.46
1998 SLM Big Daddy Jacky MartinDon Mourning Steve and Lindsey Mitchell :21.53
1997 SLM Big Daddy Jacky MartinDon Mourning Steve and Lindsey Mitchell :21.20
1996 Dashing Folly Tami Purcell Donna McArthur Jaramar Ltd. :21.70
1995 My Debut Roman Figueroa Blane Schvaneveldt C.R. Potts:21.74
1994 Refrigerator Bruce Pilkenton Blane Schvaneveldt Jim and Marilyn Helzer :21.67
1993 Refrigerator Bruce PilkentonBlane Schvaneveldt Jim and Marilyn Helzer :21.59
1992 Refrigerator Kip Didericksen Blane Schvaneveldt Jim and Marilyn Helzer :21.37
1991 Special Leader Kenneth Hart Mike Robbins Joe Kirk Fulton :21.39
1990 Dash for Speed Kip Didericksen Blane Schvaneveldt Bob Blakeman and Tom Bradbury :21.32
1989 See Me Do It Larry LaytonBobby Turner Jean Dillard :21.47
1988Shawnes FavoriteBruce Pilkenton Bob Baffert Salinas Ranch21.63
1987 First Down Dash James LackeyBlane Schvaneveldt Vessels Stallion Farm :21.41
1986 Gold Coast Express Danny Cardoza Bob Baffert Bill and Louella Mitchell :21.56
1985 Cash Rate James LackeyBlane Schvaneveldt B.F. Phillips Jr. and Minnie Rhea Wood :21.31
1984 Dashs Dream Danny CardozaMike Robbins Joe Kirk Fulton 21.84
1983 Justanold Love Bruce PilkentonCharles Cascio J.E. Jumonville Jr. :21.68
1982 Sgt. Pepper Feature John CreagerMike RobbinsTom Neff:21.59
1981 Denim N Diamonds Jerry NicodemusDon Farris R.D. Hubbard :21.74
1980 Lady Juno Jerry NicodemusBlane Schvaneveldt Ivan Ashment :21.59
1979 Mr. Doty Bars Robert AdairJohn Cooper George and Shirley Loeb :21.78
1978 Miss Thermolark Kenneth HartBlane Schvaneveldt Ronny Schliep :21.66
1977 Dash For Cash Jerry Nicodemus Charles Cascio B.F. Phillips Jr. and The King Ranch of Texas :21.63
1976 Dash For Cash Jerry Nicodemus Charles Cascio B.F. Phillips Jr. and The King Ranch of Texas :21.17
1975 Easy Date Donald KnightJames McArthur Walter Merrick :21.71
1974 Don Guerro Robert AdairDon FranciscoRobert Mitchum:21.73
1973 Charger Bar James DreyerWayne Charlton Ed Allred and Kenneth Wright:22.15
1972 Mr. Jet Moore Terry LiphamEarl HolmesBob Moore:21.86

Notes

In 2010, Apollitical Jess set a new track record with a time of :20.939. Prior in 2008, Jess You and I set a new track record, becoming the first to break the 21 second barrier in the race when he recorded a time of :20.94. The second-place finisher, Little Bit of Baja, also eclipsed the old world record turning in a time of :20.97. In 2009, Freaky ran in 21.06 and in 2013 Last to Fire's time was :21.09. The previous record of :21.13 had been established in the 2007 running won by World Champion Blues Girl Too, which broke Dash For Cash's 1976 track record of :21.17.

2007's victory by Blues Girl Too made her the sport's all-time leading female earner. [3]

2005's renewal saw the first time the first four finishers of the Champion of Champions were three-year-olds.

1993 saw Refrigerator become the sport's all-time leading money earner with his victory.

During the summer of 1986, eight-year-old Sgt Pepper Feature was claimed for $12,500 and immediately retired. The superstar gelding ran fifth in his 62nd race, retiring with just over $900,000 in career earnings. The group who claimed him includes Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram.

1983's running was the first running to feature Grade I status.

1979 saw Mr Doty Bars win at 22-1.

2017 saw Mr PYC To You win at 60-1.

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References

  1. 1 2 "Champion of Champions". www.losalamitos.com. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  2. "Matabari upsets Moonist in Los Alamitos Winter Championship". Daily Racing Form. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  3. http://www.losalamitos.com/laqhr/stakes/results.cfm?id=662%5B%5D