Apollitical Payoff defeats Pyc War Wagon (#5) and Jess Call Me Candy (#7) in the $26,500 OQHRA Fall Classic Stakes at Will Rogers Downs Monday.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–NOVEMBER 13, 2023–Multiple stakes winner Apollitical Payoff raced to a half-length win over Pyc War Wagon in the $26,500 OQHRA Fall Classic Stakes at Will Rogers Downs Monday afternoon.

Under jockey Edwin Escobedo the post time favorite didn't disappoint while completing the 400 yards in :19.906 seconds, a 94 speed index with a 3 mph tailwind. It was the seventh career win in 26 starts for the 4-year-old son of leading sire Apollitical Jess.

Winner of the Mighty Deck Three Stakes at Remington Park last March, Apollitical Payoff is trained by Jason Olmstead. Brenda Reiswig is the owner-breeder of the bay gelding from the Tres Seis mare Seis The Royal Cash. The winner's purse valued at $15,684 swells Apollitical Payoff's earning total to $270,713.

The winning connections of Apollitical Payoff accept the OQHRA Fall Classic Stakes trophy at Will Rogers Downs.
© Coady Photography

Runner-up Pyc War Wagon earned $5,228 for his second-place effort. Champion jockey James Flores had the riding call for trainer Michelle Hurdle. Dee Gragg owns the son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon from the Mr Jess Perry mare First Prize Fancy. Bred by Weetona Stanley, the brother to stakes sire Pyc Fun N Fancy and Im A Fancy Pyc has earned $50,214.

PV Quarter Horse Farms, LLC's homebred Jess Call Me Candy finished a head back to earn $2,876 for third. Eddie D. Willis conditions the Apollitical Jess filly out of Send Me Good Candy by Good Reason SA. Winner of the Miss Ellen Stakes in her last start October 15, Jess Call Me Candy has earned $90,280. Jimmy Brooks was riding.

Burning Follies, Big Caney, Lillie Langtry, Blues Candy SA, Awesome View and Mister Cabo completed the field.

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The 2023 fall season officially began at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs September 11th and will concludes November 14th. Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is located 3 miles east of Claremore on Highway 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.