Champion of Champions (horse race)

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Champion of Champions
Grade 1 race
LocationLos Alamitos Race Course
Cypress, California, USA
Inaugurated1972
Race typeQuarter 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.

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

  • ,
  • ,
  • ,
  • ,
  • ,
  • ,
  • , and the
  • .

The two fastest times in the receive the last two berths. The winner of the 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:

  • :20.939 - (2010)

Most wins by a jockey:

  • 4 - (1976, 1977, 1980, 1981)
  • 4 - (1983, 1988, 1983, 1984)

Most wins by a trainer:

  • 9 - (1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)

Most wins by a horse:

Winners of the Champion of Champions[]

Year
Winner
Jockey
Trainer
Owner
Time
2020 Apollitical Pence Raul Valenzuela John Cooper Dunn Ranch and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC 21.442
2019 He Looks Hot Vinny Bednar Scott Willoughby Ed Allred 21.38
2018 Bodacious Eagle Cody Jensen Justin Joiner Johnny Trotter 21.472
2017 My Pyc To You Carlos M. Huerta Jose Antonio Flores Flores, Jose Antonio, Van Amburgh, Denise and Van Amburgh, Ronald 21.61
2016 Zoomin For Spuds Jesus Aylala Monty Arrossa Jim Walker 21.30
2015 Jose Antonio Flores
2014 not run
2013
2012
2011
2010
2009
2008 :20.94
2007 :21.13
2006 Vaughn Cook, Dan Lucas, Muller Racing and Vessels Stallion Farm :21.18
2005 :21.20
2004 G. R. Carter :21.28
2003 , and Toby Keith :21.19
2002 and :21.27
2001 :21.47
2000 Carlos Bautista Connie Hall :21.46
1999 Steve Fuller Steve VanBebber :21.46
1998 Jacky Martin Don Mourning :21.53
1997 Jacky Martin Don Mourning :21.20
1996 :21.70
1995 Roman Figueroa C.R. Potts :21.74
1994 Refrigerator Blane Schvaneveldt :21.67
1993 Refrigerator Bruce Pilkenton Blane Schvaneveldt :21.59
1992 Refrigerator Blane Schvaneveldt :21.37
1991 Mike Robbins Joe Kirk Fulton :21.39
1990 Blane Schvaneveldt and :21.32
1989 Larry Layton Bobby Turner :21.47
1988 Shawnes Favorite Bruce Pilkenton Bob Baffert Salinas Ranch 21.63
1987 James Lackey Blane Schvaneveldt :21.41
1986 Bob Baffert :21.56
1985 James Lackey Blane Schvaneveldt and :21.31
1984 Danny Cardoza Mike Robbins Joe Kirk Fulton 21.84
1983 Bruce Pilkenton Charles Cascio :21.68
1982 John Creager Mike Robbins Tom Neff :21.59
1981 Jerry Nicodemus Don Farris :21.74
1980 Jerry Nicodemus Blane Schvaneveldt :21.59
1979 Robert Adair John Cooper :21.78
1978 Kenneth Hart Blane Schvaneveldt :21.66
1977 Dash For Cash and :21.63
1976 Dash For Cash and :21.17
1975 Easy Date Donald Knight James McArthur :21.71
1974 Robert Adair Don Francisco Robert Mitchum :21.73
1973 Charger Bar James Dreyer Wayne Charlton and Kenneth Wright :22.15
1972 Terry Lipham Earl Holmes Bob 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, , 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.

References[]

  1. ^ a b "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[permanent dead link]

External links[]

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