Amarillis is awarded the prestigious Horse of the Meet title at the 2025 American Quarter Horse Association racing season at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs after being named the Black Gold Fillies Futurity Champion on November 11.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Darcy Stephens

CLAREMORE, OK—NOVEMBER 14, 2025—Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs wrapped its 2025 Quarter Horses season on Tuesday, closing out another successful chapter that saw an overall increase in wagers and attendance.

The Claremore track saw a total of 276 total races ran from September 8 through November 11.  There were 231 Quarter Horse races, while 45 were made up of mixed (Paint and Appaloosa) horses. The season concluded with more than $4.5 million in wagers, up 8% from 2024 thanks to an increase in on-track handle, reflecting strong attendance.

"We were pleased to see our average field size and total handle grow from last season. Some of the finals were the most competitive highlights of this meet, and we were proud to see so many winners in the circuit who had prepped here at Will Rogers in the weeks prior,” said John Lies, racing secretary, announcer and oddsmaker at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. “With an average field size of 8.45 in the Quarter Horse division, the races were deep and the wins were spread out amongst dozens of different trainers."

Amarillis, an Oklahoma-bred 2-year-old sorrel filly, went from a maiden in September to Black Gold Fillies Futurity Champion on closing day, earning her top honors as Horse of the Meet. Amarillis was bred by M.C. Stucks and was trained by Stacey Capps. She earned $228,901 from four perfect starts at Will Rogers Downs for owners Dusty Rose Ranch, LLC.

Roman Cruz dominated the jockey standings as leading rider and was named Jockey of the Meet. His 53 wins more than doubled those earned by second-leading rider, Juan Pulido, who won 24. Mario Delgado, David Alvarez, Jr. and C.J. Benn rounded out the top five.

Jesus Ruiz finished the season with Trainer of the Meet honors, with 17 wins, two more than both defending champ Jason Olmstead and Dee Keener with 15 winners apiece. Trainer Rhonda Valdivia logged 13 winners. Additionally, nine different trainers won more than seven races each, and 10 others sent out more than five winners at the meet.

The leading Owners of the Meet were Double A Ranch, Inc. Their 24 starters landed them seven wins, earning top honors for the second year in a row.

Thoroughbred racing will kick off at Will Rogers Downs in January 2026.

With more than 250 games, live music, heart-pounding horse racing action and impeccable service, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is your source of entertainment. The casino and track are both located 3 miles east of Claremore on Hwy. 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.

About Cherokee Nation Entertainment
Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming and hospitality company of the Cherokee Nation. With three decades of expertise in providing exceptional gaming experiences, the company owns and operates Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and nine Cherokee Casinos in Oklahoma, including a racino, three resort hotels, a golf course, and other retail operations. CNE also operates Gold Strike Casino Resort in Tunica, Miss., one of the most recognizable gaming destinations in the region. For more information, visit www.HardRockCasinoTulsa.com, www.CherokeeCasino.com, and www.GoldStrike.com.          

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