Flash Bak surprises in Champion of Champions

CYPRESS, Calif. - Overlooked in a field loaded with many of the nation’s leading Quarter Horses, Flash Bak ran one of the best races of his already-accomplished career to record an upset in Saturday’s $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos.

Starting from the inside post in a field of 10, Flash Bak ($20.80) caught early leader Apollitical Pence midway through the 440-yard race and remained in front through the final 200 yards to win by three-quarters of a length over Empressum, the 11-10 favorite. Empressum, the 2022 Quarter Horse World Champion, won the 2022 Champion of Champions.

The first two finishers are trained by Heath Taylor.

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Ridden by Francisco Calderon, Flash Bak was timed in 21.57 seconds, racing into a 15-mile-per-hour headwind.

A Tres of Eagle (45-1) finished third, a neck behind Empressum. Apollitical Pence, who won the Champion of Champions in 2020 and 2021, faded rapidly midway through the race and finished, beaten two lengths, as 4-1 third choice.

Flash Bak was second by three-quarters of a length in the 2021 Champion of Champions as a 3-year-old. At the time, he raced for owners and breeders Jim Streelman and Bill Dale. Flash Bak was sold privately to current owner Sammy Valeriano after the 2021 Champion of Champions.

Flash Bak was a major stakes winner as a 3-year-old in 2021 and again last year as a 4-year-old. He was in the midst of an outstanding season before Saturday’s win. In October, Flash Bak upset KJ Desparado in the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship at 440 yards.

Flash Bak earned a berth in the Champion of Champions by finishing third in a 400-yard time trial at Los Alamitos on Nov. 12.

A Missouri-bred gelding by Moonin the Eagle, Flash Bak has won 11 of 29 starts and has earned $1,820,157.

Taylor said in the winner’s circle that Flash Bak and Empressum will be considered for the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park in New Mexico on Jan. 7.

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