Invitations Extended for Inaugural Great State Challenge

Invitations were extended Monday, Nov. 25, to the connections of the 84 ranked horses in the NTRA Great State Challenge. The NTRA Great State Challenge, presented by John Deere and Fed Ex and to be held at Sam Houston Race Park on Dec. 7, is comprised of six races, each worth $275,000 and boasting full fields representing some of the finest state-bred runners in America.

Modeled on the Breeders' Cup World Thoroughbred Championships, the Great State Challenge races are limited to horses from jurisdictions where the official state horsemen's association is an NTRA member. Great State Challenge races are limited to 14 starters. The top eight NTRA-member horsemen's associations -- California, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Texas, based on current dues -- have been guaranteed one horse in each race. Horses representing other state associations are then granted one position in the main body of the field. States are limited to two starters per race. The state whose horses perform best in the six Challenge races will be declared the NTRA Great State Challenge Champion.

The races are:

- NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies, 7 furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-old fillies
- NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile, 7 furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-olds
- NTRA Great State Challenge Sprint, 6 furlongs on the dirt for 3-year-olds and older
- NTRA Great State Challenge Turf, 9 furlongs on the turf for 3-year-olds and older
- NTRA Great State Challenge Distaff, 8.5 furlongs on the dirt for 3-year-olds and older, fillies and mares
- NTRA Great State Challenge Classic, 9 furlongs on the dirt for 3-year-olds and older

A complete list of the 14 invitees for each NTRA Great State Challenge race and the racing panel's preference list for each contest appears below. Should a horse drop out of consideration prior to entry day in the Juvenile or the Turf, an attempt will be made to replace him or her with another horse representing the same state. In all other races, the first horse on the preference list will fill the vacancy.

NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile Fillies, 7 furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-old fillies
# Rank/ Horse Name/Owner/Trainer/State
1, Humorous LadyClassic Star Stable/Michael R. Smith/California
2, Elegant Designer/Michael H. Sherman/Anthony W. Dutrow/ Florida
3, She's Fantastic Ron L. Brandenburg & Rich Morawski/Ron L. Brandenburg/Illinois/
4, Hurricane Hebe Circle S. Ranch, Inc./Raymond E. Stifano/Indiana
5, Midnight Cry/ Barrister Hall Stables Kenneth G. McPeek/ Kentucky/
6, Perfect Blue/ Mason Dixon Racing/Roger Werneth/Maryland/
7, Powers Prospect Lynch Racing & D'Arrigo Racing Stab/Cathal Lynch/ New Jersey/
8, Marc's Rainbow Albet Fried, Jr./Todd A. Pletcher/New York/
9, Youcan'ttakeme Herman Sarkowsky/David Foster/ Washington/
10, Parting Preston Stables Cindy Navarre/Texas
11, Souris Nelson B. Hunt Steven M. Asmussen/Kentucky/
12, Atlantic Ocean The Thoroughbred Corporation/ Bob Baffert/Florida
13, Hannah's Royalrock/Keith A. Asmussen/ Steven M. Asmussen/Texas
14, Miss Nicolie/ Ronald Gomez/ D. Wayne Baker California/
2, Combanchera/Anstu Stables/Todd A. Pletcher/New York/
2, Indy Fire/ Swifty Farms/ Stephen D. Dunn Indiana
2, Cascade Corona Mr. and Mrs. Fredrick L. Pabst Jim Penny/ Washington/
2, Julie's Prize/Richard Otto Stables/ Anthony Mitchell/Illinois/
2, Crimson and Roses/ Jacks or Better Farm, Inc./James Hatchett Florida
2, Stonecoldfox/ Vessels Stallion Farm/Danny Cardoza/California/
3, Cashmere Miss/Richard F. Rudolph/Joseph E. Broussard/Illinois/
3, Confiding Winner/Leprechaun Racing & Martin Racing S./ Steven M. Asmussen/Texas
3, Sea Bloom/ John Treece & James Coleman Rester/Sam B. David, Jr./ Kentucky/
3, Shesasmokin/W. Wildwood Stables & Willia Badgett/ William Badgett, Jr./ New York/
3, Tavy's Plan/Dennis & Jim Lea/Len Kasmerski/Washington/
4, Big Score/ Jack Grunwald/Steven M. Asmussen/Kentucky/
4, Running Debate Trilogy Stable & Laurie Plesa/Edward Plesa, Jr./ Florida
4, Tiffany Jennifer/Kenneth W. Murphy/ Bob Young/ Texas
5, Fabulous Brush Kalarikkal K. Jayaraman & D. Vilasini/Kenneth G. McPeek/ Florida
5, Tale of a Dream Golden State Stable & Lafever/Bret H. Layne/Kentucky/
6, Collymore Hall Eugene & Laura Melnyk/Todd A. Pletcher/Florida
6, Southern Smoke Presidential Path Stable & Ga Ricky/Kelly J. Breen Kentucky/
7, Female Accomplice/ Randall A. Hendricks/ William N. Million/Kentucky/
7, Fluid And Fast Stephen E. Horne/Cole Norman/Florida
Global Finance OUT

NTRA Great State Challenge Juvenile, 7 furlongs on the dirt for 2-year-olds
# Rank/ Horse Name/Owner/Trainer/State
1, Only the Best/Alvin E. Toffel Brian A. Lynch California/
2, Hear No Evil/ Jacks or Better Farm, Inc./James Hatchett Florida
3, Posse/Heiligbrodt Racing Stable/ Steven M. Asmussen/Kentucky/
4, Cherokee's Boy Z W P Stable/ Gary Capuano/ Maryland/
5, Gators N Bears Leo S. Nechamkin II/Leio S. Nechamkin II/ New Jersey/
6, Funny Cide/Sackatoga Stable/Barclay Tagg/ New York/
7, Action Tonight George A. Wolff Danny Pish/Texas
8, Supah Blitz/Bee Bee Stables & Jacquelin Tortora/Emanuel Tortora Florida
9, Truckle Feature James McIngvale Bob Baffert/Kentucky/
10, Bridge Out Again/Richard W. Small/Richard W. Small/Maryland/
11, Crackup Stan E. Fulton Rafael Becerra California/
12, Most Feared/Tom R. Durant/Ronny Werner/ Texas
13, JB Hood Coast To Coast Racing Fund/Hal R. Wiggins New York/
14, Trueamericanspirit/Tee-N-Jay Farm Timothy A. Hills/New Jersey/
3, Excessive Barb Rubin Brown/Craig A. Lewis California/
3, Unleash the Power/ Glen Hill Farm Thomas F. Proctor/ Florida
3, Private Gold/ Mountain Top & Beverly & Robert Lewis/Patrick B. Byrne/Kentucky/
4, Sailinwithcaptain/ Michael E. Pegram/ Bob Baffert/California/
4, Trust n Luck/ Einar P. Robsham/Ralph Ziadie/ Florida
4, Catalissa/ Stonerside Stable/ Michael Stidham Texas
5, Timely Jeff/Corleto & JMJ Racing Stables/ Jeff Bonde/California/
5, Comic Truth/Kalarikkal K. Jayaraman & D. Vilasini/Kenneth G. McPeek/ Florida
5, Zydeco Affair/David Beard/Tony J. Richey Kentucky/
6, Dance For Romeo Kalarikkal K. Jayaraman & D. Vilasini/Manuel A. Estevez/ Florida
6, Desert Warrior Overbrook Farm D. Wayne Lukas Kentucky/
7, Broadway Buzz/Stephen E. Horne/Cole Norman/Florida
7, Captain Amour/Maramour Stables/John V. Betts/Kentucky/
8, Boston Park/Overbrook Farm D. Wayne Lukas Kentucky/
Leo's Last Hurrahy – OUT
Bull Market - OUT

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