The Fiscal Cliff dominates BOA Challenge Championship

The Fiscal Cliff broke on top and never looked back for a length win in Saturday night’s Grade 1, $388,080 Bank of America Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows.

The race was one of five challenge stakes for Quarter Horses on the card, with purses for those races totaling more than $850,000.

The Fiscal Cliff ($14.20) was in control of the Challenge Championship throughout, as he was up by a length at the first call before going on to cover 440 yards on a sloppy, sealed track in 21.29 seconds. Three Olives N Smoke finished second, while it was another length back to 4-5 favorite Ajs High in third.

Benito Baca rode The Fiscal Cliff for Thomas Lepic and trainer Kasey Willis. The horse earned $203,280 to push his career record to 13 wins from 23 starts for earnings of $607,955. The Fiscal Cliff came into the Challenge Championship off a third-place finish in the Grade 2 Prairie Meadows Challenge on Sept. 16

The Fiscal Cliff is a son of Pyc Paint Your Wagon and was bred in Iowa by Lepic.

Jess Paint Your Lips ($3.20) improved her career record to 7-for-8 when she darted to a three-quarter-length win over Time For Wine in the $105,000 Distaff, a 400-yard race for fillies and mares. Jess Paint Your Lips won her fifth straight race, and covered the distance in 19.46 seconds.

Carris Cartel ($12) overcame a stumbled start to get up for a neck win over Jd Wagon Boss in the $131,300 Juvenile Challenge. The winner covered 350 yards on a sloppy, sealed track in 17.50 seconds.

Dauns First Desirio ($4) delivered as the favorite in the $180,000 Derby, winning by a head over Faster Than Hasta. Duans First Desirio covered 400 yards on a sloppy, sealed track in 19.39 seconds.

Zoomin Racer ($4) was a 2 3/4-length winner of the $105,000 Distance Challenge. Zoomin Racer covered 870 yards on a sloppy, sealed track in 45.31 seconds.