Imperial Eagle, Chainman clash in Southwest Juvenile Championship

All American Futurity winner Imperial Eagle will attempt to rebound from a rare defeat Sunday when he faces a sharp Chainman in the Grade 1, $200,000 Southwest Juvenile Championship at Zia Park.

The Southwest Championship, a 440-yard race for Quarter Horses, is the final stakes race of the meet in Hobbs, N.M.

Imperial Eagle reached a career pinnacle Sept. 5, when he rallied for a neck win in the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs. It was the fourth straight win for the horse, whose streak also was comprised of three consecutive trial wins at Ruidoso, starting May 27.

The record made Imperial Eagle an odds-on favorite one start later, when he ran in trials for the Hobbs America Futurity on Sept. 24 at Zia. But the race did not go as planned. Imperial Eagle did not break well at all and ended up eighth, failing to qualify for the finale. He has since been working regularly at Zia, among his moves 440 yards from the gate in 22.40 seconds Nov. 26.

Imperial Eagle on Sunday will be moving back to a distance at which he is 2 for 2 after running over 400 yards in the trial for the Hobbs America. Esgar Ramirez has the mount from post 5 for trainer Tony Sedillo. Imperial Eagle, a son of One Famous Eagle, races for Charles E. Robinson.

Chainman has won his last three starts, including the Hobbs America by a dominant 1 1/4 lengths in his most recent out Oct. 9. He was favored following his trial win for the race and an allowance score, both in September at Zia. Chainman, a son of Separatist, will break from post 9 under Bonifacio Quiroz. Harvey Baeza trains the horse for Benito Arenivas.

Imperial Eagle and Chainman both have shown versatility in their races, by winning on the front end and from off the pace. Chainman wired his rivals in the Hobbs America and Imperial Eagle rallied to win the All American Futurity. Chainman will be racing beyond 400 yards for the first time in his career Sunday.

Others making up the 11-horse Southwest Championship include Magnifico Dragon, a winner of his last two starts, including the New Mexico Cup Classic Futurity for statebreds in his most recent out Oct. 30 at Zia.