Apollitical Pence earns third trip to Champion of Champions
CYPRESS, Calif. - Apollitical Pence won the $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos in December, the second consecutive year the gelding won the track’s leading race for older horses.
Apollitical Pence has earned a chance at a record-equaling third win.
Sunday, Apollitical Pence recorded a comprehensive victory in the $152,700 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship, earning a berth to the 2022 Champion of Champions. The remainder of the Champion of Champions field will be determined by the winners of major stakes through the year and through time trials in late November.
Ridden by regular rider Armando Cervantes in the Winter Championship, Apollitical Pence broke sharply to lead by 1 1/2 lengths after 100 yards. Apollitical Pence had the same advantage midway through the 400-yard race before Cervantes began to ease down on his mount.
Sent off favored, Apollitical Pence ($3.60) finished a half-length in front of 8-5 Flash Bak. Circle City (5-1) was third, beaten 1 1/4 lengths in the field of 10.
Apollitical Pence was timed in 19.45 seconds. He won for the 14th time in his 31-race career. Owned by Dunn Ranch and trained by Monty Arrossa, Apollitical Pence has earned $1,516,985.
Apollitical Pence has a chance to join Refrigerator as the only three-time winner of the Champion of Champions. Refrigerator, considered one of the finest Quarter Horses in history, won the Champion of Champions from 1992-1994.