LOS ALAMITOS : Down With Debt Shows Championship Form

Down With Debt moved a step closer to winning a 1994 world championship with her stunning victory in the $100,000 AQHA Challenge Championship Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Breaking from the outside post position in the 10-horse field, Down With Debt was never seriously challenged in the 440-yard race. Under the confident handling of jockey John Creager, Down With Debt posted a winning time of 21.53 seconds, paying $3.20, $2.80 and $2.20.

Sound Dash, one of Down With Debt’s main rivals for the champion aged mare title, finished second, three-quarters of a length behind, and paid $5.00 and $3.20. Specially Fast, a multiple stakes winner this year, paid $3.20 for the show position.

Down With Debt, trained by Charlie Bloomquist for owner George Haddad, is undefeated this year. Her victories include the Las Damas and Go Man Go handicaps and the Vessels Maturity. The next start for the 4-year-old mare is expected to be the prestigious Champion of Champions on Dec. 17.

In other stakes action Friday night:

A disqualification in the $50,000 Wrangler Juvenile Challenge Championship resulted in RJ Not Easy winning his first California start for owner-breeder Randy Higginson and trainer Lin Melton. The gelding was awarded the victory after Runaway Streaker was disqualified and placed fifth for interfering with favored High Priorities. RJ Not Easy paid $81.20, $26.00 and $14.40. Victorious Moon was placed second, followed by early leader Slick Willie Fisher in third.

Trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, who won the first race of the evening with Inspiring Dash, saddled his second stakes winner of the night in the $50,000 Sooner Trailer Derby Challenge Championship. Ridden by John Creager, who also won the Challenge Championship aboard Down With Debt, Lil Bita Brunch dueled with Ronas Deal before prevailing by a nose in the 400-yard race, winning in 19.96 seconds. Nip Them In The Bud ran third. Lil Bita Brunch paid $9.40, $5.80 and $2.80 for his winning efforts.