Wynnchester Heads Q-Racing Video Lone Star Distance Challenge Thursday

Grade 1 distance winner Wynnchester has been installed as the 6-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday's $20,000 Q-Racing Video Lone Star Distance Challenge (G3) at Lone Star Park.

The 870-yard event for 3-year-olds and older is carded as Race 3 with a scheduled post time of 6:57 p.m. (CT). Six horses are entered, with Wynnchester, Dm Special Cat and Yippee Ki Yey the three shortest prices on the morning line.

Also at stake is a berth to the $125,000-est. Grade 1 Q-Racing Video Challenge Championship to be run during the AQHA Challenge Championship Night at Downs at Albuquerque on October 15.

Wynnchester, the 6-5 morning-line choice from post 1, brings the strongest distance résumé into the race. The 5-year-old gelding has won four of 21 career starts while earning $108,243, including two victories, two seconds and three thirds from 10 starts at 870 yards with earnings of $82,126. This season he has compiled a 1-2-1 record from five starts and earned $46,002.

His biggest victory of 2026 came May 30 at Remington Park when he drew clear by 3 3/4 lengths to win the $50,000 Remington Park Distance Championship (G1). He was also second in the Pauls Valley Stakes (G2) and third in the Q-Racing Video Remington Park Distance Championship (G2). In his last start, Wynnchester finished sixth in the $50,000 Bill Reed Memorial at The Downs at Albuquerque on August 29.

Owned by Lucky Ladies, Wynnchester is trained by Justin W. Joiner and will be ridden by Mario Delgado. Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, the brown gelding is by leading sire Favorite Cartel from Nellie Delaney, by FDD Dynasty. He was a $90,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate.

Dm Special Cat, listed at 2-1 from post 5, enters Thursday's Challenge off a victory at Retama Park on August 6. The 4-year-old gelding rallied to win an 870-yard allowance by a half-length in his most recent start. Earlier this year, he finished third in both the $43,000 Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge (G3) and an 870-yard allowance at Sam Houston.

Dm Special Cat has been particularly consistent around the turn, compiling two wins, three seconds and three thirds from eight career starts at 870 yards while earning $37,048. Overall, he has won three of 19 starts, with six seconds and three thirds, and banked $59,947. He owns a 1-1-1 record from five starts at Lone Star Park.

Donna Mushinski owns, bred and campaigns Dm Special Cat, who is trained by Kie Mushinski and will have Claudio P. Aguilar aboard. The Texas-bred gelding is by multiple stakes sire Stray Cat from Sophies Special, by Visionarian. No sale information is listed in the program.

Yippee Ki Yey, the 9-2 third choice from post 6, is another proven stakes performer at the distance. The 5-year-old gelding has earned $143,818 from a 28-race career that includes four wins, four seconds and five thirds. He has one victory and one third from four starts at 870 yards, earning $33,545.

Yippee Ki Yey captured the $46,000 San Marcos Stakes (G3) at Retama Park on June 27, getting up late to win by a half-length. One start earlier, he finished a close third in the $50,000 Governor's Cup Marathon Stakes (G3) at Sam Houston. He comes into Thursday's race following a fifth-place finish behind Dm Special Cat at Retama on August 6.

Owned and bred in Texas by Stanley Forbes, Yippee Ki Yey is trained by Richard D. Sedillo and will be ridden by Alejandro Medina. The gelding is by leading sire Tres Seis from Jess Shantastic, by Fantastic Corona Jr.

Completing the six-horse field are Hezamonzter at 6-1, Pj Dynasty at 15-1 and Red Jet at 15-1. Hezamonzter has finished second in four of nine career starts at 870 yards, while Pj Dynasty has won three of seven starts at the distance. Red Jet broke his maiden going 870 yards at The Downs at Albuquerque in his most recent start.

The program's morning-line order makes Wynnchester (6-5), Dm Special Cat (2-1) and Yippee Ki Yey (9-2) the top three favorites for Saturday's Q-Racing Video Lone Star Distance Challenge (G3).

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