First Down Dash Runs Away With Champion of Champions

First Down Dash did just that to win by 1 3/4 lengths the $200,000 Champion of Champions 440-yard race for 3-year-olds and up Saturday at Los Alamitos.

“He left there in front,” James Lackey said of his mount. “There just wasn’t any problem after that.”

Gold Coast Express, with Danny Cardoza aboard, finished second, a head in front of Florentine, ridden by Kenny Hart, in a field of 10 quarter horses.

The 3-year-old winner covered the quarter-mile in 21.39 seconds, the third fastest time in the race’s history, and earned $100,000 for the victory.

First Down Dash paid $3, $2.60 and $2.20. Gold Coast Express returned $3.20 and $2.80, while Florentine paid $4.40 to show.

The win was the seventh straight for First Down Dash, who carried 122 pounds. The colt will retire for breeding next year.