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Olmstead Reaches 1,000-Win Milestone With Valley Junction Futurity Victory
ALTOONA, IA — September 25, 2026

Trainer Jason Olmstead reached a major career milestone Friday night at Prairie Meadows when Jessa Southern Girl delivered his 1,000th career victory with a win in the $326,110 Valley Junction Futurity (G3).

Fittingly, the milestone came in one of the richest Quarter Horse races of the Prairie Meadows season and during a year in which Olmstead currently sits atop the national trainer standings by money earned.

Olmstead entered Friday night's racing as the No. 1 Quarter Horse trainer by earnings in 2026, with his stable compiling 115 wins, 93 seconds and 102 thirds from 727 starts. His runners have earned $4,036,757 this season, averaging $5,553 per start.

The stable has won at a 16-percent rate in 2026, with 43 percent of its starters finishing in the top three.

Friday night's milestone victory added another significant achievement to a career that has established Olmstead among the nation's leading Quarter Horse trainers.

A year ago, Olmstead finished No. 2 nationally among Quarter Horse trainers by earnings, recording 92 wins, 113 seconds and 91 thirds from 682 starts. His stable earned $3,368,644 during the 2025 season while winning at a 13.49-percent rate and finishing in the top three in 43.40 percent of its starts.

His 2026 campaign has moved him to the top of the earnings standings while also carrying him across the 1,000-win threshold.

Olmstead's résumé also includes one of the sport's highest training honors. He was named the AQHA Blane Schvaneveldt Champion Trainer in 2021, earning his first national AQHA Champion Trainer title after his stable's runners earned $1,949,697 during the season.

The veteran horseman has also collected numerous training titles during his career, including an extended run of success as a leading Quarter Horse trainer at Canterbury Park.

Career win No. 1,000 came with Jessa Southern Girl on one of Prairie Meadows' biggest nights of the season, giving Olmstead a Grade 3 futurity victory to accompany the milestone.

With more than $4 million in stable earnings already in 2026 and the season still underway, Olmstead enters the final months of the year as the nation's current leading Quarter Horse trainer by money earned.

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ALTOONA, IA — September 25, 2026

Fastest qualifier Jessa Southern Girl extended her winning streak to four consecutive races Friday evening with a victory in the $345,110 Valley Junction Futurity (G3) at Prairie Meadows.

Ridden by Armando Alvidrez for trainer Jason Olmstead, Jessa Southern Girl broke sharply and led throughout the 350-yard final, drawing clear to win by three-quarters of a length. She stopped the clock in :17.624, earning a 92 speed index over a sloppy, sealed track.

Owned by Robert Brown, Jessa Southern Girl was bred by Leann Burns and is a $103,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. The daughter of Apollitical Jess is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Mary Paintyourwagon.

Jessa Southern Girl earned $155,299 for the victory, improving her record to five wins from seven starts with earnings of $199,617. She entered the September 6 trials off a victory in the Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge and returned to post the fastest qualifying time for Friday's final.

Eyesa Chick Magnet and jockey Cristian Esqueda finished second for owner, breeder and trainer Stacy Charette-Hill. A $30,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale, the gelding is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, out of the Country Chicks Man mare Eyesa Candy Chick.

Eyesa Chick Magnet improved his record to four wins and one second from seven starts, with earnings of $111,968. He entered the September 6 trials off a fourth-place finish in the Prairie Meadows Gold Futurity.

Rr Dash Thru Fire finished third under Ryder Olmstead for owner Abraham Harms and trainer Jason Olmstead. Bred by Reliance Ranches, the colt is a $30,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate by Coronado Cartel, out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Diva On Fire.

Rr Dash Thru Fire now has a record of two wins, three seconds and one third from seven starts, with earnings of $70,986.

Jess Danica, Strive, Winnemuca, Encourager, Taco Tuezday, Br Classified and Counter 44 completed the order of finish.

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THACKERVILLE, OK — September 24, 2026

Books are now open for Just A Kool Boy SI 110, the Grade 2-winning son of Favorite Cartel standing the 2027 breeding season at Red River Equine LLC. His 2026 weanlings and foals born in 2027 will now be eligible for the Ember Flight of the Fuego Stallion Incentive Program.

Just A Kool Boy’s 2027 breeding fee is $2,500. A discounted fee of $2,250 is available for bookings made by December 31, 2026 and his first foals are expected to hit the tracks in 2027.

Owned by Adina Baker, Just A Kool Boy won or placed in 10 of 17 career starts and earned $211,861. The AQHA Racing Champion Aged Stallion won the Bob Moore Stakes (G2) and finished second in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Derby (RG2). He placed third in the Boyd Morris Memorial Stakes (RG2), Jack Brooks Stakes (RG3) and Ruidoso Overnight Stakes, and fourth in the Golden State Million Futurity (G1).

He was also a finalist in the Leo Stakes (G1), Mr Jet Moore Handicap (G2), Rainbow Invitational and Oklahoma Horsemen’s Association Mystery Derby.

Just A Kool Boy is eligible for more than 20 additional programs, including the Minnesota Futurity, Cowboy State Stallion Incentive, QHRAI, TQHA, Oklahoma Bred, Kentucky Accredited, MQHRA, Ruby Buckle, Future Fortunes, Tomorrow’s Legends, Young Guns, Triple Crown 100, VBGRA, Glacier Chaser Classic, Black Gold, Blue Collar Breeders, Colorado Classic, Select Stallion Stakes, C-N Futurity, Pro Elite Sire Incentive, Legends of the South, Ropers Classic and WPRA.

His sire, Favorite Cartel, is one of the industry’s top leading sires. From 12 crops to race, he has sired 158 stakes winners, eight champions and 1,006 winners with combined earnings of $67.5 million. His leading runners include All American Futurity (G1) winner Hezgotthelook Z SI 99 ($2,358,400), champion Trane Station V SI 97 ($1,754,152), three-time champion Cyber Attack SI 101 ($1,721,346), Bomb Cyclone SI 104 ($1,446,063), AQHA Supreme Race Horse Powerful Favorite SI 106 ($1,226,875), 2025 Rainbow Oaks winner Toby Sis SI 102 ($1,114,819), 2026 All American Derby winner Effortless Favorite SI 103 ($1,094,823) and Sicario V SI 97 ($1,051,398).

Just A Kool Boy is a half-brother to stakes-placed Just Eagles Girl SI 98 ($39,933) and Red White Eagle SI 89 ($21,036). His dam, the One Famous Eagle mare Just Eagle SI 93 ($55,184), is a stakes winner and multiple black-type producer. She is a half-sister to Harrah’s Entertainment Futurity (G1) winner Endless Ocean SI 102 ($270,322) and Hialeah Laddie Futurity winner and track record holder Debs RQD SI 114 ($153,978).

His second dam, Debs Cartel SI 93 ($42,003), is a stakes-placed Grade 1 finalist by Corona Cartel. She produced 12 ROM, 10 winners and three black-type runners. Debs Cartel is a half sister to Texas Classic Futurity (G1) winner Fast Debonair SI 103 ($455,658), Oklahoma Futurity (G1) winner Lady Mara SI 101 ($83,212), Longhorn Futurity (G3) winner Fontana Beaujolais SI 94 ($31,063), Portland Meadows Derby winner Native Debonair SI 99 ($29,602) and Manor Downs Lassie Futurity winner Savona SI 88 ($25,979).

His female family also includes world champion Empressum ($2,701,248), champion Hes Judgeandjury ($2,016,522) and Grade 1 winner Okey Dokey Fantasy SI 104 ($576,251).

For breeding contracts or more information, call Lance Powers at (405) 847-9907 or email office@redriverequine.com.

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Sales Highlights


LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE

DateOctober 3–4, 2026CodeLAEMLocation
Cypress, CACatalog

ITOBA/QHRAI YEARLING & MIXED SALE

DateOctober 17, 2026CodeINDMLocation
Shelbyville, IN

FASTRACK OCTOBER MIXED SALE

DateOctober 25, 2026CodeFTOMSLocation
Gainesville, TX

HERITAGE PLACE FALL MIXED

DateNovember 5–7, 2026CodeHPFMLocation
Oklahoma City, OKCatalog

HERITAGE PLACE CHAMPIONS OF THE FUTURE ONLINE SALE

DateDecember 8–10, 2026CodeHPFIULocation
Oklahoma City, OK

FASTRACK DECEMBER MIXED SALE

DateDecember 13, 2026CodeFTDMSLocation
Gainesville, TX

FASTRACK NEW YEARS FOAL-IN-UTERO AND FROZEN EMBRYO SALE

DateDecember 31, 2026CodeFTFIUFESLocation
Gainesville, TX

HERITAGE PLACE WINTER MIXED SALE

DateJanuary 14–16, 2027CodeHPWMLocation
HPWM

HERITAGE PLACE SUMMER MIXED ONLINE SALE

DateJune 1–3, 2027CodeHPSMLocation
Oklahoma City, OK

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GRAND PRAIRIE, TX — September 20, 2026

Im A Pretty Mess, a stakes-placed daughter of multiple stakes sire Tarzanito, has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday night's $20,000 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park.

The 400-yard event for Challenge enrolled fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, is carded as Race 11 with an approximate post time of 10:25 p.m. CT. Eight fillies and mares are entered.

Also at stake is a berth to the $125,000-est. Grade 1 Cox Ranch Challenge Championship to be run during the AQHA Challenge Championship Night at Downs at Albuquerque on October 17.

Im A Pretty Mess, breaking from post 3 under JR Ramirez Jr., brings one of the strongest recent efforts into the race. The 3-year-old Louisiana-bred filly finished second to Shakers No Secret in the $59,000 Retama Championship Challenge (G3) at 440 yards on August 21 after leading into the final stages.

She was beaten only a half-length and earned a 102 Speed Index. One start earlier, she finished third against older horses in a 400-yard allowance at Retama Park.

Im A Pretty Mess has won two of six career starts with a second and a third and earnings of $35,504. Both victories came during her 2-year-old campaign, including a 400-yard futurity at Evangeline Downs. She is one-for-two at Saturday's 400-yard distance.

SLC Racing LLC owns the 8-5 favorite, who is trained by Shae Cox and will be ridden by Ramirez. Bred by Joshua R. Henderson, Im A Pretty Mess is from Eagle Diva, by One Famous Eagle. She was a $24,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate.

Paint This Rose, the 2-1 second choice from post 8, brings considerably more experience into the Distaff. The 5-year-old mare has compiled a 2-8-1 record from 21 starts and earned $72,098. She has finished first or second in 10 of those starts.

Paint This Rose was second in consecutive Remington Park allowances earlier this year, including a nose loss to Mystery V on April 9. She crossed the wire first in another Remington allowance May 16 but was declared a non-starter and disqualified. In her two subsequent stakes appearances at Fair Meadows, she finished fourth in the Golden Driller Stakes and sixth in the Belles Stakes.

The mare also has previous experience in this race, finishing fourth, beaten one length, in last year's Lone Star Distaff Challenge after encountering trouble at the start.

Aaron Newsom owns Paint This Rose, who is trained by Kevin Willis and will be ridden by Mario Delgado. Bob and/or Jerry Gaston bred the Texas-bred daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon from First Tea Rose, by First Down Dash. She sold for $37,000 at the Heritage Place sale.

Lettibefirst, at 5-1, completes the top three choices on the morning line. The 4-year-old mare has won twice from 17 career starts with two seconds and two thirds while earning $43,668. She has made five starts this season, winning once and finishing second once for earnings of $19,761.

Her biggest performance this season came June 13 at Arapahoe Park, where she rallied to win the $19,000 Pen Pal Stakes at 350 yards by a half-length while earning an 102 Speed Index. In her most recent start, she encountered trouble leaving the gate and finished sixth in the $31,000 Arapahoe Park Distaff Challenge at Saturday's 400-yard distance.

Owned and trained by Zachary Quezada, Lettibefirst will be ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr. Armando Jaquez bred the New Mexico-bred daughter of Walcott from Dashing Lili, by First Down Dash. No sale information is listed in the program.

The remainder of the field includes Mitoles Princess at 10-1, One Magic Eagle at 12-1, Dynastys Girl at 20-1, Pairadice City at 8-1 and Bm Candi Royale at 12-1. The program's mutuel ratings also list Im A Pretty Mess, Paint This Rose, Lettibefirst and Pairadice City in that order.

The Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge is part of Saturday night's Quarter Horse stakes program at Lone Star Park.

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM. — September 25, 2026

The Saturday evening card at Albuquerque Downs will feature nine races, with the first post at 6:05 p.m. The spotlight will be on a talented group of older New Mexico-breds in the $70,000 First Moonflash Maturity.

A field of seven New Mexico-breds, 4-year-olds and older, will line up for the featured event in race four. The field is set to race 440 yards at approximately 7:20 p.m., with an accomplished stakes winner leading a competitive group to the starting gate.

Kj Bad Moon Rising heads the field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The 4-year-old gelding recently turned in a solid effort against top company in the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup, finishing fifth before being elevated to fourth.

Prior to that start, Kj Bad Moon Rising put together back-to-back stakes wins, capturing the Grade 2 $81,000 Jess Burner Memorial Stakes and the Grade 2 $75,000 Zia Stakes. The accomplished New Mexico-bred has earned nine career victories and built an impressive bankroll of $1,444,856.

John Lee and Kathy Lee's New Mexico homebred is by Kj Mucho Macho Man and out of the First Moonflash mare Kj Kiss Me Goodbye. Wesley T. Giles trains Kj Bad Moon Rising, who will break from post five with jockey Noe Garcia Jr. returning to the saddle.

Woody Rocks enters as the 3-1 second choice on the morning line and brings momentum into Saturday night's test. The 4-year-old gelding has won in each of his last two starts against allowance company and now steps back into stakes competition with confidence on his side.

Woody Rocks faced Kj Bad Moon Rising earlier this season in his first start of the year. With two victories since that meeting, he returns for another shot at the millionaire gelding as he looks to carry his recent form into one of his biggest tests of the season.

Woody Rocks, the son of Woodbridge, is out of the Fantastic Corona Jr mare Jr Rock Star and was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms. He races for CHR Racing, which purchased him for $25,000 as a yearling at the Ruidoso New Mexico Yearling Sale. Tony E. Sedillo trains Woody Rocks, who will leave from post four with jockey Luis Martinez aboard.

With proven stakes talent, improving contenders, and 440 yards separating seven New Mexico-breds from the winner's circle, the $70,000 First Moonflash Maturity has all the ingredients for a thrilling finish Saturday night at Albuquerque Downs.

The races at Albuquerque Downs can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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Type
Name
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
Earnings
Cowboys Flying
6
6
0
0
$2,062,793
El Huracano V
5
3
1
1
$632,670
Ask Her To Fly
8
3
2
1
$610,175
Kj Meduzza
8
3
4
0
$605,092
Effortless Favorite
7
4
1
0
$574,790
By North American Race LeadersView Top 50 HORSES