Los Alamitos: Old-timer Rylees Boy overtakes filly in Champion of Champions

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif.- Rylees Boy became the oldest winner of the $750,000 Champion of Champions at Los Alamitos, winning Saturday’s race by a head over the 3-year-old filly Flame N Flash.

Rylees Boy gave trainer Paul Jones, 47, a sixth career win in the Champion of Champions, the nation’s top race for older Quarter Horses.

The late Blane Schvaneveldt is the all-time leader with 10 wins in the Champion of Champions.

Rylees Boy ($22.80) ran 440 yards in 21.38 seconds. A 7-year-old gelding owned by Lorena Velazquez Rodriguez, Rylees Boy started from the outside in the field of 10. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Rylees Boy was third after the first 100 yards, and closed well to catch 26-1 Flame N Flash, who led by as much as a half-length midway through the race.

Senor Toby finished third, followed by Hez Our Secret, Deniro, El Aguila Real, Jess You and I, Cold Cash 123, Charal Kid, and Chivalry Sr. Cold Cash 123, the Quarter Horse World Champion of 2011, was off slowly and was never a factor as the 9-5 favorite.

Rylees Boy has won 21 of 43 starts and $1,321,166. A gelding, he won the Bank of America Challenge Championship at Prairie Meadows on Oct. 27 to qualify for the Champion of Champions.

Prior to Saturday's race, four 6-year-olds had won the Champion of Champions, most recently Tailor Fit in 2001.

Jones said after Saturday’s race that Rylees Boy will stay in training as an 8-year-old in 2013.