Show Name: 2020 AJC Championship Series Final
Show Dates: October 10, 2020
Entries Close: October 7, 2020
The 2020 AJC Championship Final day dawned with a brilliant red glow spreading from the eastern horizon into the cloudless sky over the sprawling farmland of C&H Ranch, with the promise of almost tangible excitement and memories not soon forgotten. Smells of fresh ground coffee, pan-fried bacon, and fresh baked walnut cinnamon rolls wafted through the stable yards and grandstands. The morning had a bite to it, but as the sun rose higher it quickly warmed everything it touched. A light breeze rippled the colored flags of each contestant’s stables and the leg wraps drying on the fence lines. The overall feel was celebratory – today the best racers in the AJC determine who takes home the coveted titles of Series Final champions! While the waiting athletes crunched their pre-race oats and track preparations were being finalized, spectators were entertained by the activity in the in-field arena. Now a tradition, race-goers were treated to a comical costume contest among driven or ridden C&H horses; a laugh-inducing skit of mistaken identity involving the 2019 ERA Tevis Haggin Cup winner Double Rainbow CH++++/ and her nearly identical 2016 daughter Perzzephone CH+/, as well as AJC champion half-siblings HOF Ehecatl CH++++ and HOF DSF Sierra Nevada+++/ acting as models for matching AJC Final commemorative blankets as a fundraiser for The Committee, and finally a grand exhibit of some of C&H’s finest stallions at liberty in the arena.
At last the track was groomed and the time came for the first race the day. The BHV races are held as a precursor to the Final races. We look forward to more and more entries in the BHV races each year as the program is utilized! The newly improved BHV racecard seems to be a hit.
1. BHV PR Season Premiere Allowance: 7 furlongs over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $200,000 (7 entries)
WIN . Gunslinger Ljubica – Odeon
PLACE . Gunslinger Orphic – Odeon
SHOW . GI Sycorax – Odeon
4. Painted Raccoon E – Zym
5. Beyberry Sandy CKS – Amanda
6. Gunslinger Mecatl – Odeon
7. Gunslinger Setebos – Odeon
2. BHV MYS After The Storm UNG Stakes: 1.25 miles over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $200,000 (4 entries)
WIN . GI Faaip De Oiad – Odeon
PLACE . Midnight Mayham CKS – Amanda
SHOW . Fashion Forward CH – C&H Ranch
4. All Nightmare Long CH – C&H Ranch
3. BHV OTS Miss Pretender G3 Sprint: 5.5 furlongs over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $400,000 (1 entries)
WIN . Beyond Magnetic CH – C&H Ranch
4. BHV DS Torchlight Cup G3: 7 furlongs over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $400,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Miuccia DE – Amanda
PLACE . Bitternoodles CH – C&H Ranch
SHOW . GI Quantum Theory – Odeon
5. BHV Triton BM Sprint G2: 6 furlongs over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $600,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Pomona CH : CW
PLACE . Peregrina DE – Amanda
6. BHV Magnar R Derby G2: 1 mile over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $600,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Azals Agenda CKS – Amanda
PLACE . Kalimantan Moon DE – Amanda
SHOW . Aeosphorus DE – Odeon
7. BHV Gureiko PVE G1 Sprint: 6 furlongs over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $800,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Al Akbar CKS – Amanda
PLACE . Magnums French Vanilla CKS – Amanda
8. BHV MYL Masdaer Trophy Stakes G1: 1.25 miles over dirt for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $800,000 (0 entries)
1. BHV PYR Toksyczny Noc Allowance Turf: 7 furlongs over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $200,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Gunslinger Jyotis – Odeon
PLACE . Gunslinger Anju – Odeon
2. BHV Patecatl CH UNG Stakes: 1.25 miles over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $200,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Gunslinger Modestine – Odeon
PLACE . Mauharina NH – Amanda
3. BHV Optimus Prime CH G3 Sprint: 5.5 furlongs over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $400,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Axayacatl CH – Amanda
PLACE . GI Prospero – Odeon
4. BHV DS Bohemian Knight G3 Turf Cup: 7 furlongs over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $400,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Girl Gone Satin CKS – Amanda
PLACE . CKS Dante’s Peak PASB – Amanda
5. BHV Tlaloc DE Turf Sprint G2: 6 furlongs over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $600,000 (0 entries)
6. BHV Coal Ghost WVF Turf Cup G2: 1 mile over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $600,000 (2 entries)
WIN . Altivo Song CKS – Amanda
PLACE . Cezary PVE : CW
7. BHV Gunslinger Odysseus G1 Sprint: 6 furlongs over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $800,000 (0 entries)
8. BHV Ehecatl CH Turf Stakes G1: 1.25 miles over turf for 3 yr old and up Open. Purse: $800,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Gunslinger Oratorio – Odeon
PLACE . Xaohroa CKS – Amanda
SHOW . Princess of Saturn CKS – Amanda
After the exciting BHV races and BHV program promotional speech had concluded, a low-murmuring hush descended upon the crowd. The afternoon wind was more forceful across the prairie than earlier, stealing away clouds of dust at te horse’s hooves, but the sun warm warm on the faces of spectators. The excitement was palpable as the track was groomed once again for the first race of the Finals. This is what everyone has been waiting for! Many of this years horses advancing to the finals were consistently top four in the previous races, which makes for an excitingly even ground for talent.
2020 marks the first year of the new Championship Series racecard, which splits the races by age and gender farther and makes a more comprehensive competition. With a pretty weird year as 2020 was, the entry numbers are unfortunately down but that doesn’t minimize the stupendous talent brought forth today.
The first championship race of the day is the Princess Ida NH Oaks G1, named for the lovely mare owned and bred by Amanda of Castle Keep Stables (New Harvest Arabians). As a racehorse, she made her own bid during the AJC Champonship series, winning the *Lauyal’s Dancing Desire Oaks G1 in 2019, and several graded stakes wins in her career. With a small field of three this year, there wasn’t a heavy favorite between the fillies, as each of them won a championship race this season. However, favor was given to ETM Anegdociarz as she also won the second leg of the Triple Tiara earlier this year in the Texas Yellow Rose G1.
The race started fairly uneventful, as each of these mares are seasoned competitors and display good manners at the gate. Being so evenly matched, it really looked like they were three abreast pulling an invisible chariot, around both turns and into the homestretch. Each of the jockeys knew their horses well, and didn’t push them until the last part of the race, where they all had fairly fresh horses to battle it to the finish line. What was, honestly, a boring race became exciting as the crowd realized we may have a three-way photo finish! They pounded under the wire, and a hush descended while race-goers waited for the photo finish light to stop blinking on the billboard. Odeon just about fainted when Gunslinger Nikolaevna’s name flashed on the screen and was declared the winner.
1. Princess Ida NH Oaks G1: 1.25 miles over dirt for 3-4 yr olds only F/M. Purse: $1,000,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Gunslinger Nikolaevna – Odeon
PLACE . ETM Anegdociarz++ – Jennifer
SHOW . Destined For Gloty ETM – Amanda
Gunslinger Nikolaevna
(Tals Prince X Anastazja WVF)
2016 Bay Domestic Arabian Mare
Owned by Odeon of Gunslinger Inc.
Bred by Odeon of Gunslinger Inc.
gunslingerinc.boards.net/thread/1054/2016-arabian-mare-gunslinger-nikolaevna
The second race of the day is the Airbender LLE Stakes G1, named for the 2016 Bob Magness Derby G1 winner (third leg of the Triple Crown). He also captured the MYL Ariuath Stakes G1 as well as placed second in the Marutas CH Stakes G1 in the 2019 AJC Championship Series. Coming into this race, the heavy favorite was Indus Hart DE, who captured all THREE of his AJC Championship races this season! If he wins today, he will have swept the entire series in his class. The other two were no slouches, both champions in their own right.
The younger colts caused a bit of ruckus at the loading gate and Gunslinger Grandoureux seemed to be really amped and distracted. ETM Alrriah Alssahrawia was more series, and Indus Hart DE played with his bit and bobbed his head in anticipation. When the bell rang, all three horses broke together, with Gunslinger Grandoureux slightly rearing in the air as he propelled forward and putting himself just off pace. With only three entries, the horses weren’t likely to be involved in a traffic jam and they cleanly settled themselves into position as they rounded the first turn. Indus Hart DE set the pace, and they maintained it through the backstretch and around the far turn. He seemed to switch gears visibly, like he knew that it was time to shine. The crowd gasped and couldn’t believe their eyes as he pulled away by one length, then two, then three, and met the finish wire a whopping eight lengths ahead of his two competitors! Indus Hart DE swept ALL FOUR of his AJC Championship races this year! What an amazingly talented horse and the others have the misfortune of being born the same competition years!
2. Airbender LLE Stakes G1: 1.25 miles over dirt for 3-4 yr olds only C/S/G. Purse: $1,000,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Indus Hart DE – Amanda
PLACE . ETM Alrriah Alssahrawia – Odeon
SHOW . Gunslinger Grandoureux – Odeon
Indus Hart DE
(Prince X Sahara Desert Doe)
2017 Bay Arabian Stallion
Owned by Amanda of Castle Keep Stables
Bred by Chay of Datura Estates
(no page link)
The third race was the Sparkle Pearl Oaks G1, named for Sunni’s lovely mare who made history in HF by being the first to win two of the three Triple Tiara races, and even winning her own race named after her in the 2010 AJC Championship Series Final. Princess Al-Waheed NH (DSF Al-Wahed X Thee Princess) is the returning champion, and while she didn’t capture a race this year, she did win the 2019 Sparkle Pearl Oaks G1 as well as the Child Of The Night Cup. Second favorite Charming Strawberry NH makes her first bid in this final having already won two of the series races this year.
These mares are already seasoned veterans of the track, and some being BHV sired as well so they have experience in those bigger events. They loaded into the gates like the proper ladies they are, and broke evenly and professionally when the gates clanged open. As they pounded around the first turn and into the backstretch, it looked like CKS Bahieh PASB was running into some trouble! She slowly, but clearly, started trailing behind the other three. Her jockey felt this too, and instead of pushing her to stay at pace, she encouraged her to slow. What a disappointment for Castle Keep today, as this mare had captured an AJC Championship race this year and had plenty left then! The three mares in the lead continued around the far turn and pounded into the homestretch. Princess Al-Waheed NH and Charming Strawberry NH moved ahead of GI Light Fantastik, and these two stable mates familiar with racing each other started to push the other to their limits. Neck and neck, they came down the stretch with GI Light Fantastik breathing down their tails. The crowds were wondering which mare would be the one this time – the 2019 Champion, or the daughter of Holy Charmer? 300 feet from the finish, GI Light Fantastik decided she’d had enough dirt in her face and plenty of gas left in the tank, pulling around to the outside of Princess Al-Waheed NH and putting on a burst of sprinter speed that her sire is famous for producing! They swept under the wire with upset mare GI Light Fantastik stealing away the title from the two champions!
3. Sparkle Pearl Oaks G1: 1.25 miles over dirt for 5 yr old and up F/M. Purse: $1,000,000 (4 entries)
WIN . GI Light Fantastik – Odeon
PLACE . Charming Strawberry NH – Amanda
SHOW . Princess Al-Waheed NH – Amanda
4. CKS Bahieh PASB – Amanda
GI Light Fantastik
(Light of Earendil X Attrakt IMA)
20135 Bay Dominant White Domestic Arabian Mare
Owned by Odeon of Gunslinger Inc.
Bred by Odeon of Gunslinger Inc.
gunslingerinc.boards.net/thread/1525/2015-arabian-mare-light-fantastik
After race note: CKS Bahieh PASB is being checked by the vet back in the stables, and the initial response is that the mare is fine, but she is tired. Castle Keep Stables will be looking into this farther to determine the reason and if she has any underlying health, hormonal, or nutritional needs. She may just really have had an off day, and she is not lame.
The track was groomed for the fourth and final dirt race of the day, the OTS Tohfa Bint Ryad Stakes G1. This race was formerly called the Rocky Raccoon DS Stakes G1. Now named for the 2019 Ryad El Jammal Stakes G1 TURF winner who has nearly a million in earnings, and whose sire is that race’s namesake AND who also sired the 2018 Triple Crown Winner Jammel’s Butterfly NH. It runs in the family.
The bettors were all over the board today. The ever popular Jolly Guacamole CH was undefeated in All-Sim, has an outstanding record in HF, but has been plagued with fourth places this year rendering him no longer a sure bet on the board. MYL Tluthdin is no stranger to the track, having won TWO of his Triple Crown races in 2015, and one of the Championship Series races this year in 2020. Majd Al Merlin won a series race in 2018, and Gunslinger Psonata won the Series race this year that is actually named after Merlin! There’s no telling where this race will go. All boys presented are talented, but none have unequivocally outshown the other this year.
With a small field this year, it wasn’t anticipated to have many, if any, hiccups in the running. Boy, were we wrong! From the post parade to loading in the gates, Majd Al Merlin and Gunslinger Psonata continued to pick at each other, clearly not getting along today. Perhaps Merlin was mad that Psonata won his namesake race instead of him? LOL. But the distraction didn’t end with with bell’s clang. Racing veterans Jolly and Tluthdin seemed to be irritated by the two acting foolish, and preferred to just get to business. It’s not like they haven’t been racing with each other all season. Tluthdin set the pace on the rail, with Jolly content to remain at his saddlecloth on the outside with Merlin settling behind Tluthdin. Psonata kept himself abreast of Merlin and thus was established a brisk pace that these champions are known for. By the backstretch, Jolly had moved up to Tluthdin’s neck, and as they entered the final turn he issued the challenge that C&H has missed all season! He let Tluthdin know he was serous, and Tluthdun responded in kind. As they rounded the turn and came down the homestretch, silly Psonata reached his head out and tried to bite Merlin as Merlin saw a gap between the two front runners! The jockey manged him beautifully, but Merlin’s head still wasn’t in the game and now he was just focusing on being angry. These two need some relationship therapy! As they neared the wire, Jolly pulled ahead of Tluthdin with a few last powerful bounds and secured his place once again in the history books with his fourth AJC Championship race win.
4. OTS Tohfa Bint Ryad Stakes G1: 1.25 miles over dirt for 5 yr old and up C/S/G. Purse: $1,000,000 (4 entries)
WIN . *Jolly Guacamole CH – C&H Ranch
PLACE . MYL Tluthdin – Starlit Oasis Stables
SHOW . Majd Al Merlin – Amanda
4. Gunslinger Psonata – Odeon
*Jolly Guacamole CH+/
(Al Reeh Janoob X Jolly Lady)
2013 Grey Domestic Arabian Stallion
Owned by Megan of C&H Ranch
Created by Megan of C&H Ranch
chranch.twolarrysracing.com/stallions//jollyguacamole.shtml
The fifth championship race of the day, and first for turf, is the Jammels Butterfly NH Stakes G1. Named for the amazing Anglo-Arabian stallion owned by Amanda, he was the 2018 Triple Crown Champion, as well many notable G1 races and millions in earnings. In just a field of three, the heavy favorite this year is Siebal CH, which is no surprise given her record. Winner of two Turf Triple Crown races in 2018, the championship final race in 2018 named after her sire Marutas, as well as winning all THREE of her championship series races this year! Including the one named after her! Yet another Ryad El Jammal PASB progeny, ETM Wampirzyca ended second above Princess Ida NH on the betting boards but only barely.
After the chair-gripping drama of the last race, spectators seemed relieved that the three mares paraded and loaded without issue. They broke cleanly, with Siebal pushing to the front early and Princess and Wampirzyca on the outside respectively. They remained in such a pattern through the first turn and into the backstretch, where Siebal started to pull ahead, first by a neck, then a length, then a length and a half. Princess’ jockey looked surprised that Siebal’s jockey would make such an early move, but tried to keep Princess fresh against her protests to keep pace with Siebal. Wampirzyca’s jockey seemed to feel the same, it looked as it they still had plenty of horse underneath them. As they reached the final turn, it became clear that if something didn’t soon, Siebal would run away without them so both jockeys fanned their whips to tell their mounts it was time to get busy. And they did! But so did Siebal. Away she pulled, farther and farther, and then her jockey just let her open up and she flew! This Anglo-Arabian showed her explosive combination of Marutas and Topside, taking the fans on an exciting ride as she flew under the wire a full nine lengths ahead of her competitors! Behind her, Wampirzyca and Princess battled it out and swapped places several times – Wampirzyca with her nose out front, then Princess – and at the wire no one knew who placed! For the second time today, the photo finish lights blinked, and a cheer rose as Princess was declared second by an exciting fraction of a nose!
5. Jammels Butterfly NH Stakes G1: 1 mile over turf for 3 yr olds and up F/M. Purse: $1,000,000 (3 entries)
WIN . Siebal CH – C&H Ranch
PLACE . Princess Ida NH – Amanda
SHOW . ETM Wampirzyca+ – Jennifer
Siebal CH++++
(HOF Marutas CH++++/ X HOF HR Feiticiera++++)
2014 Black Half-Arabian Mare
Owned by Megan of C&H Ranch
Bred by Megan of C&H Ranch
chranch.twolarrysracing.com/halfarabmares/siebal.shtml
The final race of the day brought us to the Marutas CH Stakes G1. Named for the 7-time stakes winner who secured 5 AJC Year End Awards including 2008 AJC Year End Awards AJC HORSE OF THE YEAR CHAMPION, and later became a 5-time AHA National Champion, the Marutas CH Stakes GI is a flagship championship for turf racers, especially after his own son, the great Triple Crown Winner Ehecatl CH, secured it in his race record THREE times. In fact, half of today’s competitors hail him in their pedigrees. The favorite for this race, though close, was established as Judaean Dream DE. Winner of two Turf Triple Crown races this year and one championship series race, he only missed out on the Crown because of the performance of – you guuessed it – BQ Delightful Tiki. Tiki has also captured one series race and one TTC race this year, so this should be an exciting race!
Happily it was another loading in the gates without incident, and all of the horses broke cleanly. They settled into the pace well, with KS Haughty setting it early with BQ Delightful Tiki on his heels and the rest of field fanned out behind and Patecatl CH bringing up the rear. As they rounded the turn and made their way down the backstretch, places shifted and the pattern changed a bit, but for the most part the pack stayed the same. That all changed as they headed to the far turn. Tiki thought he’d had enough of Haughty, and pushed passed him to steal the lead, but Haughty was true to his name and pushed back. They pulled away from the rest of the pack as they set a blistering pace out of the turn and into the homestretch. Tiki’s jockey could be seen sawing at his mouth, but it appears he took the bit and decided to run! They couldn’t keep this pace for for as much as there was left in the race!
It seemed the two cousins InLove AndWar and Aztecatl had been biding their time and waiting for the front runners to falter. Haughty had a head bob, and Tiki started to tire, which is when InLove AndWar, Dream, and Aztecatl made their bid and dug in with a fresh burst of speed, quickly passing the leaders who had burned themselves out. Patecatl was still in the rear and continued to drop back – he never fired and gave an incredibly lackluster performance that was severely disappointing to C&H Ranch. He will be checked thoroughly after the race.
The two black comets InLove AndWar and Aztecatl were now setting the blistering pace down the homestretch, with Dream hanging in there in third. What a battle to the wire this is turning out to be, between two horses that look so much alike! It was like a mirror image as they were neck and neck, pounding down the homestretch and digging deep inside themselves to fulfill their jockey’s requests. With an extra effort, InLove AndWar CH jumped ahead at the very last moment, and secured the championship title named after both stallion’s grandfather.
6. Marutas CH Stakes G1: 1 mile over turf for 3 yr olds and up C/S/G. Purse: $1,000,000 (6 entries)
WIN . InLove AndWar CH – C&H Ranch
PLACE . Gunslinger Aztecatl – Odeon
SHOW . Judaean Dream DE – Amanda
4. KS Haughty – Amanda
5. BQ Delightful Tiki – Amanda
6. Patecatl CH – C&H Ranch
InLove AndWar CH+
(Radioactive D X Salimah BAI++)
2015 Black Egyptian Related Arabian Stallion
Owned by Megan of C&H Ranch
Bred by Megan of C&H Ranch
chranch.twolarrysracing.com/stallions/inloveandwar.shtml
After all of the excitement of racing was over for the day and the shadows were stretching farther to the east, the AJC asked Tina of Starlit Oasis Stables to bring a certain one of their horses to the winner’s circle. At the end of the yearly Series, the AJC awards one winner of all the Series races the elite Child Of The Night Cup in honor of their effort and excellence in this grueling, highly competitive series. This year’s Child Of The Night Cup honor is awarded to:
2020 CHILD OF THE NIGHT CUP
MYL Tluthdin+++
(MYS Taher X Belusena Rouge)
2011 Chestnut Domestic Arabian Stallion
thefakepony.com/castlekeepstables/horsepage.php?id=1229
Owned by Tina of Starlit Oasis Stables
Bred by Sunni of Mystic Visions
For the Championship Series, he placed second in the 2020 Enchanted SF Stakes G1, won the 2020 Kambridge BM Stakes G1, third in the 2020 Majd Al Merlin Stakes G1, and second in the 2020 OTS Tohfa Bint Ryad Stakes G1.
Began his racing career in the AJC in 2014, winner of two of the Triple Crown races in 2015, and has earned over $1.5million.
Congratulations to everyone, and thank you for another great AJC Championship Series!
See full results: hfajc.proboards.com/thread/722/2020-ajc-championship-series-final
See past AJC Championship Series winners: hfajc.proboards.com/thread/190/ajc-championship-series-champions
