The Champion of Champions is a stakes race annually held at Los Alamitos Race Course in Cypress, California. It is the championship race for Quarter Horses.
The field is determined by the winners of qualifying races held around the United States. The races currently are: Los Alamitos Winter Championship, Remington Park Championship, Vessels Maturity, All American Derby, Mildred Vessels Memorial, Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Los Alamitos Super Derby, and the Bank of America Challenge Championship.
The two fastest times in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials receive the last two berths. The winner of the Go Man Go Handicap qualifies as the first alternate if one of the qualifying race winners does not compete.
The Champion of Champion was not held in 2014 due to concerns over the widespread use of clenbuterol, a drug not permitted at Los Alamitos.
Records Speed record: :20.939 - Apollitical Jess (2010)
Most wins by a jockey: 4 - Jerry Nicodemus (1976, 1977, 1980, 1981) 4 - Bruce Pilkenton (1983, 1988, 1983, 1984)
Most wins by a trainer: 9 - Blane Schvaneveldt (1978, 1980, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995)
Most wins by a horse: 3 - Refrigerator (1992, 1993, 1994) 2 - Dash For Cash (1976, 1977) 2 - SLM Big Daddy (1997, 1998) 2 - Tailor Fit (1999, 2001) 2 - Apollitical Pence (2020, 2021) 2 - Empressum (2022, 2024)
Winners of the Champion of Champions Year Winner Jockey Trainer Owner Time 2025Fdd Dreams Luis MartinezManuel Rodolfo Rodriguez La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC21.402024EmpressumRodrigo VallejoHeath TaylorJeff Jones and Steve Holt21.302023Flash BakFrancisco CalderonHeath TaylorValeriano Racing21.572022EmpressumRodrigo VallejoHeath TaylorJeff Jones and Steve Holt21.0892021Apollitical PenceArmando CervantesMonty ArrosaDunn Ranch21.3522020Apollitical PenceRaul ValenzuelaJohn CooperDunn Ranch and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC21.4422019He Looks HotVinny BednarScott WilloughbyEd Allred21.382018Bodacious EagleCody JensenJustin JoinerJohnny Trotter21.4722017My Pyc To You Carlos M. HuertaJose Antonio Flores Flores, Jose Antonio, Van Amburgh, Denise and Van Amburgh, Ronald21.612016Zoomin For Spuds Jesus AylalaMonty ArrossaJim Walker21.302015Heza Dasha FireCruz MendezJose Antonio FloresS-Quarter K LLC:21.202014not run2013Last to FireEduardo NicasioJose De La TorreJesus Avila & Jesus Cuevas:21.102012Rylees BoyRamon SanchezPaul JonesLorena Velazquez Rodriguez:21.382011Good Reason SAEduardo NicasioPaul JonesGianni Samaja:21.442010Apollitical JessEduardo NicasioJuan AlemanRancho El Cabresto:20.9392009FreakyFrancisco RubioAdan FariasArmando Aguirre:21.062008Jess You and IAlejandro LunaJamie GomezDouble Bar S Ranch:20.942007Blues Girl TooSaul RamirezJoe BassettLucky Seven Ranch:21.132006Wave CarverRamon SanchezPaul JonesVaughn Cook, Dan Lucas, Muller Racing and Vessels Stallion Farm:21.182005Ocean RunawayAlex BautistaDenny EkinsMuller Racing LLC:21.202004Cash For KasG. R. CarterPaul JonesE.D. Calvert:21.282003The Down SideRamon SanchezPaul JonesJohnny T.L. Jones, R.D. Hubbard and Toby Keith:21.192002WhosleavingwhoJoe BadillaPaul JonesJim Geiler and Kim Kessinger:21.272001Tailor FitAlvin BrossetteJanet VanBebberBetty Jane Burlin:21.472000A RansomCarlos BautistaConnie HallJohn and Kathie Bobenrieth:21.461999Tailor FitSteve FullerSteve VanBebberBetty Jane Burlin:21.461998SLM Big DaddyJacky MartinDon MourningSteve and Lindsey Mitchell:21.531997SLM Big DaddyJacky MartinDon MourningSteve and Lindsey Mitchell:21.201996Dashing FollyTami PurcellDonna McArthurJaramar Ltd.:21.701995My DebutRoman FigueroaBlane SchvaneveldtC.R. Potts:21.741994RefrigeratorBruce PilkentonBlane SchvaneveldtJim and Marilyn Helzer:21.671993RefrigeratorBruce PilkentonBlane SchvaneveldtJim and Marilyn Helzer:21.591992RefrigeratorKip DidericksenBlane SchvaneveldtJim and Marilyn Helzer:21.371991Special LeaderKenneth HartMike RobbinsJoe Kirk Fulton:21.391990Dash for SpeedKip DidericksenBlane SchvaneveldtBob Blakeman and Tom Bradbury:21.321989See Me Do ItLarry LaytonBobby TurnerJean Dillard:21.471988Shawnes FavoriteBruce PilkentonBob BaffertSalinas Ranch21.631987First Down DashJames LackeyBlane SchvaneveldtVessels Stallion Farm:21.411986Gold Coast ExpressDanny CardozaBob BaffertBill and Louella Mitchell:21.561985Cash RateJames LackeyBlane SchvaneveldtB.F. Phillips Jr. and Minnie Rhea Wood:21.311984Dashs DreamDanny CardozaMike RobbinsJoe Kirk Fulton21.841983Justanold LoveBruce PilkentonCharles CascioJ.E. Jumonville Jr.:21.681982Sgt. Pepper FeatureJohn CreagerMike RobbinsTom Neff:21.591981Denim N DiamondsJerry NicodemusDon FarrisR.D. Hubbard:21.741980Lady JunoJerry NicodemusBlane SchvaneveldtIvan Ashment:21.591979Mr. Doty BarsRobert AdairJohn CooperGeorge and Shirley Loeb:21.781978Miss ThermolarkKenneth HartBlane SchvaneveldtRonny Schliep:21.661977Dash For CashJerry NicodemusCharles CascioB.F. Phillips Jr. and The King Ranch of Texas:21.631976Dash For CashJerry NicodemusCharles CascioB.F. Phillips Jr. and The King Ranch of Texas:21.171975Easy DateDonald KnightJames McArthurWalter Merrick:21.711974Don GuerroRobert AdairDon FranciscoRobert Mitchum:21.731973Charger BarJames DreyerWayne CharltonEd Allred and Kenneth Wright:22.151972Mr. Jet MooreTerry LiphamEarl HolmesBob Moore:21.86
Notes In 2010, Apollitical Jess set a new track record with a time of :20.939. Prior in 2008, Jess You and I set a new track record, becoming the first to break the 21 second barrier in the race when he recorded a time of :20.94. The second-place finisher, Little Bit of Baja, also eclipsed the old world record turning in a time of :20.97. In 2009, Freaky ran in 21.06 and in 2013 Last to Fire's time was :21.09. The previous record of :21.13 had been established in the 2007 running won by World Champion Blues Girl Too, which broke Dash For Cash's 1976 track record of :21.17.
2007's victory by Blues Girl Too made her the sport's all-time leading female earner.http://www.losalamitos.com/laqhr/stakes/results.cfm?id=662
2005's renewal saw the first time the first four finishers of the Champion of Champions were three-year-olds.
1993 saw Refrigerator become the sport's all-time leading money earner with his victory.
During the summer of 1986, eight-year-old Sgt Pepper Feature was claimed for $12,500 and immediately retired. The superstar gelding ran fifth in his 62nd race, retiring with just over $900,000 in career earnings. The group who claimed him includes Bob Baffert and Mike Pegram.
1983's running was the first running to feature Grade I status.
1979 saw Mr Doty Bars win at 22-1.
2017 saw Mr PYC To You win at 60-1.
References
External links List of Champion of Champions winners https://web.archive.org/web/20080828030723/http://www.losalamitos.com/laqhr/cofc2006/history.html