Danjer narrowly notches second straight Grade 1 victory

Danjer won his second straight Grade 1 race when he came rolling down the stretch to take Saturday night's $250,000 American Quarter Horse Association Challenge Championship by a head at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The race was the richest of five Challenge Championship stakes and, in addition to the first-place check of $115,817, it rewarded its winner with a berth in the Grade 1 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.

The Challenge Championship stakes were showcased on a program of 10 stakes races. Albuquerque was hosting the traveling event for the second year in a row. The fields for the Challenge Championship stakes were determined by qualifiers throughout the year.

:: Want to get your Past Performances for free? Click to learn more.

Danjer ($3.20) on Saturday broke out from post 10, recovered, and steadily gained ground on the leaders. He won a photo over Mi Amor Secreto, while covering 440 yards on a fast track in 21.16 seconds. Mi Amor Secreto finished a half-length clear of third-place finisher Eagles Fly Higher.

Cody Rodger Smith was aboard the winner for Dean Frey, who bred, co-owns and trains Danjer. Last month the horse won the Grade 1, $300,000 Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship. It was the first Grade 1 for Danjer, who is a son of Fdd Dynasty

Frey races Danjer in partnership with Downtime Enterprises and Billy Smith. He said earlier this week a goal was to try to get to the Champion of Champions with Danjer.

Frey had a second Challenge Championship winner on the card when Bad Monkey edged Jc Wild King by a neck in the Grade 2, $125,000 Juvenile Challenge Championship. It was another neck back in third to Isa Super Freak.

Bad Monkey ($5.60) was always prominent while covering the 350 yards in 17.48 seconds. Benito Baca rode the winner, a son of Capo de Capi bred and owned by Frey. Bad Monkey is now 4 for 7.

The win was the second Challenge Championship stakes victory on the card for Baca. He was aboard Madewell ($6.40), who won his fourth straight race in the Grade 1, $100,000 Distance Challenge Championship. Madewell was a 2 3/4-length victor over Illtakeyououtforaride.

Madewell covered the 870 yards in 44.68 seconds on a track rated fast. He has built his win streak at the distance, in races at Albuquerque. Madewell is a son of Jess Jones who is owned by Ray and Davy Madewell and trained by Bernard Baca.

Jess My Hocks ($3.20) was a neck winner over Dr Tool in the Grade 3, $150,000 Derby Challenge Championship. The winner covered 400 yards in 19.40 seconds, while winning his third straight race and second consecutive stakes. Mario Delgado was aboard the son of Kiss My Hocks for breeders Tom and Kathleen McNally and trainer Jordan Baumann.

Lynnder 16 returned to one of her best distances for the Grade 1, $100,000 Distaff Challenge Championship and won the 400-yard race for fillies and mares by a half-length over Jr Prissys Blood. Berkley Packer was aboard the daughter of Apollitcal Jess for Tom Maher and Richard Tobin. Lynnder 16, who covered the distance in 19.66 seconds, is trained by Jason Olmstead. She paid $5.60

Earlier on the card, there was a dead heat for both the win and fourth-place position in the $40,000 Distaff. Sinsational Tacha ($5.80) and Easily Lethal ($28) hit the wire together first, while the co-fourth-place finishers were Corazon Rastado 727 and Black Shadow.