Champion of Champions qualifying format altered

Los Alamitos has changed the qualifying format for the $600,000 Champion of Champions for older horses on Dec. 11, giving track officials the discretion to invite horses instead of awarding some berths to the winners of major stakes outside California.

In recent years, the winners of such races as the Remington Park Championship, All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs, and Bank of America Challenge Championship, which frequently moves to different venues, have received provisional berths, provided the horse can comply with the track’s strict medication policies.

For 2021, as many as five provisional berths in the 10-horse field will be given to horses that win major stakes at Los Alamitos, three berths are available to horses that win major stakes outside of California, and at least two positions will be available through time trials on Nov. 14.

The track plans to establish a selection committee that will review all Grade 1 stakes for 3-year-olds and older through the year and offer invitations based on a horse’s campaign, passage of a pre-race hair follicle test, compliance with the track’s extensive policy for soundness and veterinary practices, and whether the owner and trainer are in good standing with track management.

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The selection committee will assess out-of-state candidates who are Grade 1 winners based on race results.

The winners of five stakes at Los Alamitos – the Brad McKinzie Winter Championship in February, Vessels Maturity on July 3, Mildred Vessels Handicap for fillies and mares on Sept. 19, Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 9, and Los Alamitos Super Derby on Nov. 7 – will receive provisional berths, subject to review by the selection committee.

The winner of the Go Man Go Handicap on Aug. 29 will have a provisional berth, should a horse win more than one qualifying race at Los Alamitos, or if a horse that wins one of those races declines a berth to the Champion of Champions.

Powerful Favorite won the Winter Championship last month and is the only runner with a provisional berth so far.

The Champion of Champions is run at 440 yards and is similar to the Breeders’ Cup Classic in that the race plays an important role in year-end championship voting.

The qualifying format has changed over the years, notably with a different system for out-of-state runners.

In 2020, there were five qualifiers to the Champion of Champions through the November time trials, including race winner Apollitical Pence, who raced earlier in the year at Remington Park and The Downs at Albuquerque.