Danjer, Empressum, Apollitical Pence invited to Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos

CYPRESS, Calif. - Danjer, the 2021 Quarter Horse World Champion, has been invited to the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos on Dec. 10 along with 2021 champion 3-year-old Empressum and Apollitical Pence, the winner of the race the last two years, track officials announced on Sunday.

The Champion of Champions, at 440 yards, is the richest race for older Quarter Horses and annually plays a role in championship voting.

Dean Frey, who co-owns and trains the 6-year-old Danjer, said on Sunday that the gelding will have as many as three prep races in coming months before being sent to Los Alamitos for his first career start in California.

Danjer is a candidate for the All American Gold Cup on Sept. 5, the Championship at Albuquerque on Sept. 25, and the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championship at Horseshoe Indianapolis on Oct. 22 in advance of the Champion of Champions, Frey said on Sunday.

“I think he deserves a shot at it,” Frey said of the Champion of Champions.

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A winner of 17 of 29 starts, Danjer has earned $1,693,040. This year, Danjer has won 2 of 3 starts. He was eighth in the Leo Stakes at 400 yards at Remington Park on April 30 after being unprepared at the start, but rebounded to win the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Championship at 440 yards on May 28. Danjer was the comfortable winner of the Canterbury Park Challenge Championship on July 14.

Apollitical Pence won the Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship at Los Alamitos in February and is being prepared for an autumn campaign. Trained by Monty Arrossa, Apollitical Pence won the Champion of Champions in 2020 and 2021 for owner Matt Dunn.

Empressum won the Vessels Maturity at Los Alamitos on July 3 for owners Steve Holt and Jeff Jones and trainer Heath Taylor.

The winners of the Remington Park Championship, Los Alamitos Winter Championship and Vessels Maturity have been given automatic berths to the Champion of Champions in past years. Beginning in 2021, Los Alamitos altered the race format for the Champion of Champions, going to an invitation system.

The winners of races at Los Alamitos such as the Go Man Go Handicap on Aug. 28, Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Championship on Oct. 8 and the Los Alamitos Super Derby on Nov. 6 are likely to be granted invitations. Some berths to the Champion of Champions will be determined through time trials on Nov. 13.