Page 160 - November_2023

AQHA Challenge Championships
Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship-G1
VYTALITI
by Tracy Gantz
Owner Victor Diaz has a history with the Challenge Championship series that dates back 30 years. Thus, he was particularly
thrilled when his filly Vytaliti captured the Oct. 21 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship-G1 at Lone Star Park.
“We won the Derby in 1993 with Royal Down Dash and the Distaff with Royaltime Classic in 2003,” Diaz said. “With fillies, we have been doing good.”
For Diaz, Royal Down Dash not only won that year’s Derby Challenge Championship,
a Grade 2 race in 1993, the filly had won the All American Derby-G1 earlier in the year. She was later named the Champion 3 Year Old and 3-Year-Old Filly.
“We have had some good fortune,” Victor said. “It has been a long time—2017 was the last time that we won a big one. It gets sweeter every time.”
Diaz attended the Challenge Championships with his wife Bertha, and two nephews. They had plenty to cheer for as
Lone Star Park
$106,500 • 400 yards :19.841 • SI 91
VYTALITI, ‘19-f.
Bred by: Bobby D. Cox
Raced to 4 $184,725 16-7(2)-1-2
MR JESS PERRY
SI 113
Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
2,012 f., 166 SW • $61,800,039
STREAKIN LA JOLLA SI 99
Bred by: B.F. Phillips Jr./Delbert Smith
Raced to 3 • $56,227 8-8(1)-0-0
1,536 f., 87 SW • $25,112,596
SCOOPIE FEIN SI 99
Bred by: Dr. D. G. & Mrs. Strole Raced to 4 • $15,807 20-6-3-4
8 f., 1 SW • $837,511
ZENERGY
SI 94
Bred by: Bobby D. Cox Raced to 3 • $42,326 11-2-3-1
15 f., 4 SW • $546,152
FIRST DOWN DASH SI 105
Bred by: A. F. Stanley Jr./B.F. Phillips Jr.
Raced to 3 • $857,256 15-13(8)-1(1)-0
2,546 f., 259 SW • $90,266,894
NO FEES SI 94
Bred by: Iris M. Buchanan Raced to 3 • $166,320 6-6(3)-0-0
35 f., 1 SW • $724,444
Dustin Orona Photography
Vytaliti and jockey Francisco Calderon win the $106,500 Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship-G1 by a neck.
158 SPEEDHORSE November 2023