(November 10, 2006) - Natural Task broke alertly from the outside stall and wore down Sarahs Fast Man to win the $20,000 JEH Stallion Station Handicap by a length in front of 4,094 on the eve of the MBNA America Challenge Championship at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

Natural Task, ridden by leading jockey Jeff Williams and carrying 124 pounds, ran 550 yards in:26.836. The Texas-bred son of Special Task paid $11.60, $5 and $3 as the 9-2 third betting choice in the field of eight 3-year-olds and up. Sarahs Fast Man returned $3.20 and $3.40. Gray Invasion, the 3-2 favorite, was another neck back in third and paid $2.60.

The win was the 10th in 31 starts for Natural Task and was worth $11,800, raising the 6-year-old gelding’s earnings to $117,240 for owner Henry Kennedy Jr. and trainer Brent Kennedy.

Also on the card, jockey Jim Brooks and trainer Judd Kearl teamed to win two stakes. Four-year-old gelding Super Sixes, owned by Jesse James Ullery, ran 350 yards in :17.717 and outran Dashing On a High by a head to win the $15,030 AQHA Youth Claiming Stakes. One race later, Shirley Richardson’s Eyes Moving Easy shot 100 yards in :06.433 and beat SV Black Eyed Susan by a half-length to prevail in the world’s shortest stakes race – the $15,000 Gridiron Gallop Handicap.

“I knew I had ‘em when he broke from the gate,” Brooks quipped.

Twelve stakes races – highlighted by the six races that comprise the 14th annual MBNA America Challenge Championships – will be run Saturday at Lone Star starting at 6:35 p.m. CT.

The headline event – the Grade 1, $301,500 MBNA America Challenge Championship for 3-year-olds and up at 440 yards – includes defending AQHA World Champion DM Shicago, 440-yard world-record holder A Long Goodbye, 2005 Bayer Legend Derby Challenge Championship winner LDS Dash for Dylan and last year’s runner-up This Snow Is Cold.

TVG Network has an exclusive contract with the AQHA to broadcast Saturday’s entire 12-race program from Lone Star.