October 30, 2009 - On paper, handicappers might think Saturday’s $350,000 Bank of America Challenge Championship (G1) boils down to two California superstars, Little Bit Of Baja and Fighter On Fire.
However, it might be a good idea to take a second look at Easy Dashin Sixes, who represents Texas in the 440-yard marquee event of the Bank of America Challenge Championships. Bred in Texas by 2008 AQHA champion breeder Jerry Windham and owned by Jesus Huitron of Austin, Texas, Easy Dashin Sixes kicked off his career on the bush tracks in Mexico, where he won two futurities before returning to Texas.
Trained by Huitron’s brother Eusevio, the Streakin Sixes gelding out of the Dash For Cash mare Easy Dashin Flo then won five of his eight starts in 2008, including the Grade 2 Retama Park and Sam Houston derbies. He has had an excellent year as a 4-year-old, winning the June 7 Develop A Plan Stakes over 350 yards at Delta Downs, and the July 11 Bank of America Texas Championship Challenge (G1) at 440 yards and the July 24 Ancira Ford Stakes (RG3) over 400 yards, both at Sam Houston Race Park.
In the $107,550 Texas Challenge, Easy Dashin Sixes defeated a contentious field including Diamond Tres Seis, Hydrostatic and defending champion Sassys Tuffy, who bolted into the rail and unseated his rider, Jose Montoya.
Huitron sent Easy Dashin Sixes to Los Alamitos Race Course last month, where he has been stabled in Jaime Gomez’s barn.
“He’s been doing great,” said Gomez, who will also saddle Head Bud in the Challenge. “We worked him on October 15 (350 yards in :18.70), and I stood him in the gate yesterday.”
Regular rider Santos Carrizales will be in Southern California on Saturday to ride Easy Dashin Sixes. This will be Easy Dashin Sixes’ first start since the Ancira Ford Stakes, something Gomez thinks will work in his favor.
“He is a fresh horse coming into this race,” Gomez said. “Maybe the attention will be on Little Bit Of Baja, but this horse can run.”
Windham, an AQHA Past President who is second in the Nutrena breeder standings for 2009 Challenge competition, remains proud of Easy Dashin Sixes.
“He has beaten some great horses in his career,” Windham said. “I am looking forward to seeing a good effort from him in the Challenge Championship.”
The Bank of America Racing Challenge was created to increase racing opportunities for older racing American Quarter Horses, but the benefit of nominating is often seen in the sale ring where Challenge-enrolled horses have historically brought more money. The Bank of America Racing Challenge is the richest and most successful program in American Quarter Horse racing today – a championship series developed for the “World’s Fastest Horse.”
The Bank of America Racing Challenge will culminate with the six Challenge Championship races and six undercard Challenge stakes races on Saturday, October 31, at Los Alamitos Race Course in Los Alamitos, California. To learn more about the Bank of America Racing Challenge, visit racing.aqha.com/racing/challenge/index.aspx.
By Martha Claussen