Holiday's Angel points to River Cities

Allen Milligan, who is a private trainer for Keene Thoroughbreds, has brought a division of horses to Louisiana Downs. The group arrived last week from Churchill Downs.

Milligan’s local division includes Holiday’s Angel, who was second to Americium in the $50,000 Opelousas on July 6 at Evangeline Downs. Holiday’s Angel invaded for the race from Churchill.

Milligan said Holiday’s Angel is now being pointed to the $60,000 River Cities at Louisiana Downs. The 1 1/16-mile turf race for fillies and mares will be run on the Super Derby undercard Sept. 2.

Stall runner part of competitive feature

Trainer Al Stall Jr. has won with 13 of his last 15 starters in Louisiana, where his next entrant will come Wednesday at Louisiana Downs.

Stall sends out Vinyl in a first-level allowance for 3-year-olds and up at about 7 1/2 furlongs on turf. The race drew a competitive field of 10. Vinyl is coming off a maiden special weight win over the local grass. Joel Dominguez was aboard and again has the mount for owner Columbine Stable.

Stall’s last starter in Louisiana was Divine Bean, who won Saturday at Louisiana Downs. Stall has a division there and at Saratoga.

Doubleheader at Albuquerque

The Downs at Albuquerque will put on a doubleheader on Wednesday.

The New Mexico track was forced to cancel Saturday night’s card because of inclement weather and has brought back those 10 races as originally carded for Wednesday, including the $55,000 Budweiser Special Handicap. The races will form the first part of the doubleheader, which starts at 1:30 p.m. Mountain.

The second part of the doubleheader will be Wednesday’s regularly scheduled races, with a first post of 6:05 p.m. Mountain. In all, there will be 19 races run Wednesday at Albuquerque.

The Budweiser Special goes as the fourth race Wednesday afternoon. It’s a 6 1/2-furlong handicap and the field includes Mt Veeder, the 123-pound highweight and a stakes winner over Quarter Horses, and Oh So Regal, winner of the $150,000 Sunland Park Handicap in April.

2019 Challenge Championships

The Downs at Albuquerque will host the 2019 Challenge Championships, according to an announcement by the American Quarter Horse Association. The tentative date for the championship racing card is Oct. 26, 2019.

This year, the 25th Challenge Championships are being run Nov. 17 at Los Alamitos. Albuquerque will be hosting the event for the first time.

“We appreciate the commitment they’ve shown the industry in renovations at their track, supporting integrity measures, and efforts to further Quarter Horse racing.” Janet VanBebber, chief racing officer for the AQHA, said in a press release.

The last time the Challenge Championships were held in New Mexico was in 1993 at Sunland Park, according to a press release from Albuquerque.

◗ Eye Craft will be looking for her third win at the Evangeline Downs meet in Wednesday night’s eighth race, a five-furlong turf allowance for fillies and mares. Tim Thornton has the mount for trainer Karl Broberg.