Amarillo, Texas, November 8, 2006 – A field of 10 racing American Quarter Horses will compete for the $100,000 John Deere Challenge Championship title at the MBNA America ® Challenge Championships November 11 at Lone Star Park at Grand Prairie, Texas.

The John Deere Distaff Challenge Championship, for fillies and mares at 400 yards, is one of four Grade 1 stakes that will be offered on the stakes-filled program, an annual showcase for the premier horses in American Quarter Horse racing.

Ms Klee, owned by Phil Chess of Tucson, Arizona, and trained by Dennis Hall, has scored four wins out of eight starts this year, including the West Texas Derby (G2) and the John Deere New Mexico Distaff Challenge (G3). The 3-year-old bay mare has earned more than $105,000 of which $95,000 was earned this year. Bred by Chess, the mare is by champion Heza Fast Man. Chess, with his brother Leonard, recorded rock ‘n roll and blues stars Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, Buddy Guy and Howlin’ Wolf at their Chicago-based Chess Records in the 1950s. A 10-year breeder, Chess also bred and campaigned Ms Klee’s dam, Jakes Jockmo, a Sixarun mare who won the 1999 Texas Classic (G1) and Oklahoma (G2) derbies.

Another contender for the title is the Relagate (TB) mare On The Map. Owned by Terry Wood of Fort Worth, Texas, and trained by Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath, the 4-year-old has earned nearly $85,000, including a win in the 2006 John Deere Oklahoma Distaff Challenge (G3). In 2005, the sorrel mare set a track record for 300 yards at Zia Park.

The 4-year-old Eye Caughtcha Peekin, owned by Randee Fagan of Del Rio, Texas, is definitely another contender for the title. Also trained by Sleepy Gilbreath, the Mr Eye Opener mare had an impressive year that included wins in the Junos Request Stakes, the John Deere Texas Distaff Challenge (G3) and the John Deere Distaff Oklahoma Challenge (G3). Her lifetime earnings, all of which was earned this year, exceed $57,000.

John Deere has been the official tractor and farm equipment provider of AQHA since 2003 and also is co-sponsor of the MBNA America Racing Challenge.

The MBNA America Racing Challenge is American Quarter Horse racing’s richest program for all American Quarter Horses. A total of 72 races take place in 11 regions across the United States, Canada, Mexico and South America throughout the year. American Quarter Horses compete in one of six different types of races, depending on their age and ability.

The MBNA America Racing Challenge is a $4.8-million purse and bonus awards program, of which more than 60 percent is added money from AQHA Corporate Partners and host racetracks.

Stay up-to-date on this year’s MBNA America Challenge Championships and view a complete list of contenders by visiting http://racing.aqha.com/racing/challenge/index.aspx. This year’s Challenge Championships can be seen live from Lone Star Park on TVG.