Qualified by winning the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship

Apollitical Time, the reigning champion 3-year-old filly and the third place finisher in last year's Champion of Champions, has improved with age. Her record as a four-year-old is an impressive five for six with four stakes wins to her name. Owned by Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga, Apollitical Time came within 1/100ths of a second from equaling the 440-yard track record set by the great Dash For Cash when winning the August 26 MBNA America California Challenge Championship in :21.18. Her winning time tied Heza Ramblin Man's clocking in the 1997 Los Alamitos Invitational Championship as the second fastest 440-yard time at Los Alamitos. "She could have broken the record," said Ramon Sanchez, who piloted her on that night. "If I had known that the record was within her grasp, then I would have asked her for a little more." Apollitical Time earned a return trip to the prestigious Champion of Champions after becoming the first mare since Corona Kool in 2001 to win the Los Alamitos Invitational Championship. Sanchez has been a big storyline in the Champion of Champions. The jockey opted to ride Wave Carver in the Champion of Champions, forcing trainer Juan Aleman to look for a new rider. Aleman first opted for Alex Bautista but he has since been suspended for 30 days. Saul Ramirez will now ride Apollitical Time. " "I respect Ramon's decision. The good thing is that she's training great. She'll be ready to the race and hopefully the best horse wins," Aleman said. Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, Apollitical Time was claimed for $16,000 a little more than two years ago. She has gone on to win nine stakes races, including this year's Los Alamitos Championship and last year's Los Alamitos Super Derby and Governor's Cup Derby. "She just keeps getting better," Aleman said.

Year in and year out, trainer Juan Aleman has a big star or two in his stable. In 2002, Aleman saddled Runahalf to a runner-up finish to Whosleavingwho in the Grade 1 Champion of Champions. In 2003, he conditioned Takin On Spoon Man to victory in the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap and a third place finish in the Los Alamitos Championship. Takin On Spoon Man finished the year by racing in Champion of Champions. In 2004, the gems were named Sky Lane Pie and Flyn GT. The latter finished second in the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity and third in the Governor's Cup Futurity. The former was a two-time stakes winner at the Orange County oval. In previous years, Juan's stable featured the talented mare Running Bac - winner of the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap. Over the past two years, his big star has been Apollitical Time, who now makes Aleman a Champion of Champions trainer for the fourth tim in the last five years. "I can't say enough about the work that Juan has done with this filly. He's the brain of the operation, a hard worker and a great horseman," said owner Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga. After graduating with a degree in metallurgy at Cal. State L.A., Aleman was at a bit of a crossroads over what career path he should take. On one hand, Juan had just spent four years mastering the science and technology of metals and their properties. But on the other hand, he had this lifelong passion about working with Quarter Horses. Granted, Juan's experience working with horses was limited to his days at Milestone Ranch in Riverside. Nevertheless, when push came to shove, he didn't have to think about it too long. "I've been a Mexican Charro (cowboy) since I was 7 years old," Juan said. "Horse racing is something that I've been around my entire life."

Juan Alberto Tirado Lizarraga, a fisherman by trade in his hometown of Mazatlan, Mexico, hopes to win the Champion of Champions with one of the great Quarter Horse racing's claims of all-time - Apollitical Time. "To get her back into the Champion of Champions was our goal from day one this year. I'm so proud of what she accomplished here and I still can't believe how fast she's been running 440 yards. I think she has a chance to break Dash For Cash's record." Tirado began racing his horses to Los Alamitos when he sent Its Achicks to Aleman stable five years ago. "I've had horses in Mexico and that's always been fun," he said. "I also know Juan's parents well, so when Juan started training that's when I started running horses at Los Alamitos. Juan is a great person and a good friend. I have a great deal of trust and confidence in him." The owner has also campaigned multiple winner Make A Chick Run and Be Happy Bryan Sa. Tirado Lizarraga owns the fishing boat Prospero SS 29. The crew concentrates on fishing shrimp and over the course of season the Prospero catches some 12 tons of shrimp. Now residing in Colton, California, Lizarraga still travels to Mazatlan in time for the fishing season. In his spare time, Tirado Lizarraga loves go trail and pleasure riding. He is married to his wife Armida and the couple has three daughters.