Q-RACING JOURNAL—OCTOBER 18, 2014—Louis Howard’s Jessa Little Rusty, a 13-1 longshot, drew clear to a 3½-length victory in the $100,000 Red Cell Distance Challenge Championship (G1) on Saturday at Prairie Meadows in the first featured stakes of the Bank of America Challenge Championships.

Ridden by Omar Reyes and trained by Russell Harris, the 4-year-old gelding by Mr Jess Perry raced from off the pace of the 870-yard race, and the complexion changed when odds-on favorite Wahoo, breaking from post 1, lacked room on the inside, hit the rail and unseated rider Russel Hadley.

“He broke real good then the 7 and 6 came in and bumped me at the beginning,” said Reyes after breaking from post 5. “I just waited and as soon as I saw an opening I went. He responded good and just went right through.”

Jessa Little Rusty, bred in Texas by Clyde Wilmott, had finished second in regional Red Cell Distance Challenge races at Lone Star Park and Sam Houston Race Park, and his victory in this Grade 1 race earned him a check for $48,000. His record now stands at 23-5-5-3 with earnings of $117,421.

Joe and Elaine McAnally’s Dashers Midnight, who defeated Jessa Little Rusty in the Red Cell Sam Houston Distance Challenge, took second at odds of 27-1 with G.R. Carter Jr. aboard for trainer Kasey Willis. The 7-yaer-old gelding by Some Dasher earned $20,500.

J K Running Horses LLC’s Mixed Fantasy, runner-up in Red Cell races at Prairie Meadows and Remington Park, finished third with Josh Romero in the saddle for trainer Kenny Laymon. The Okey Dokey Fantasy 3-year-old picked up $10,000 for his third place effort.

Fire On The Fly, Srd Bobwirebob, Honoroso and Whaoo completed the field. Wahoo, who went off as the post-time favorite, was squeezed from the one hole down the back stretch when he hit the inside rail and lost rider Russel Hadley.

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