Bh Lisas Boy prevails in Bank of America Challenge Championship

Bh Lisas Boy picked up his second Grade 1 win of the year Saturday night, darting to a one-length victory over Katies Easy Moves in the $250,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship. It was another nose back to Kowboy Jim in third.

The race was the main event on a card that featured eight stakes worth $800,000. There were five major races that made up the Challenge Championships, a traveling series administered by the American Quarter Horse Association. One of those races, the Grade 1, $100,000 Distaff, was declared a “no contest” by stewards because of a gate malfunction, according to the chart of the race produced by Equibase.

In the Challenge Championship, Bh Lisas Boy ($7.80) moved to the lead in the stretch and went on to cover the 440 yards on a track rated fast in 21.50 seconds. Cesar De Alba was aboard for trainer Bill Hoburg.

Hoburg also bred and owns Bh Lisas Boy. He said the horse is the best he’s ever raced. Bh Lisas Boy is an Idaho-bred son of Mighty Invictus.

The champion Hold Air Hostage was the favorite in the Challenge Championship and finished fourth, a neck behind Kowboy Jim.

Bh Lisas Boy earned a berth in next month’s Grade 1, $600,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos for his win Saturday. However, the horse earned one earlier in the year in the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship, so Tarzanito, winner of the Go Man Go Handicap, now receives a berth in the Champion of Champions, according to a press release from Los Alamitos.

In other races, Kr Hi Five ($4.80) picked up his fourth consecutive win when he drove to a three-quarter-length victory over Stevieb Flashofcash in the Grade 2, $125,000 John Deere Juvenile Championship. He covered 350 yards in 17.67 seconds.

Corona Ranger ($12) was a half-length winner over Mi Amor Secreto in the Grade 2, $150,000 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship. He covered 400 yards in 19.75 seconds.

Mickey Ward ($8.60) won the Grade 1, $100,000 Cox Ranch Distance Challenge Championship when he wired his rivals for a head win. He covered 870 yards on a fast track in 45.53 seconds.

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