Pretty Sweet Jess won the $18,476(US) Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Stakes at Grande Prairie on Sunday.

© Coady Photography Ltd.

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

GRANDE PRAIRIE, AB—JULY 27, 2025—In a thrilling blanket finish, Pretty Sweet Jess surged late to claim the $18,476(US) Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Stakes at Grande Prairie over a distance of 400 yards.

The 4-year-old sorrel filly clocked 20.614 seconds on a good track, holding off a determined rally from First Famous Prize by a head in a dramatic drive to the wire.

The race was contested under crosswinds at 20 mph on a cloudy 17°C afternoon.

Trained by William Leech and ridden by Ricardo Moreno, Pretty Sweet Jess overcame a stumble at the break before regaining her momentum to secure her ninth career victory from 13 starts.

Owned by Jerry Stojan and bred in California by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa, the filly by One Sweet Jess out of Pretty Lethal by First Down Dash earned $9,792(US) for the win. She was a $17,000 purchase from the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

A graded stakes winner, Pretty Sweet Jess earned a return trip to the $140,000-est. Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship(G1) at Albuquerque in October.  Last year, she finished third in the Adequan Derby Challenge Championship(G3) at The Downs in Albuquerque. A winner of nine of 13 career starts, she has earned $134,680.

Runner-up honors went to First Famous Prize, a 3-year-old sorrel filly by One Famous Eagle out of Fancy First Prize by Desirio, who finished just a nose ahead of third.

Winner of the Adequan Century Mile Derby Challenge in her last start on June 27, she was facing older mares for the first time in her illustrious career.

She is trained by Buckey Stockwell and ridden by Omar Hernandez Jr., representing owners Commotion Creek Contracting and WT Ranches, Ltd. Bred in Texas by Weetona Stanley, First Famous Prize collected $4,803(US) for the effort. A $20,000 buy at the 2024 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale, she has earned $84,060 form three wins in nine starts.

Finishing third was O Seeyalater, a 5-year-old brown mare who led midway but faded to third. The daughter of leading Canadian sire First Timber out of Howdoyado by Pappasito is owned by Jeffrey R. Rath, trained by Wesley T. Oulton, and was piloted by Daniel Garcia.

The multipole stakes winner earned $2,217(US) for her performance to increase her bankroll to $108,083. Bred in Oklahoma by Wesley T. Oulton, she was purchased for $12,000 at the 2021 AQHRA Yearling Sale.

Pari-mutuel payoffs returned $4.40 to win, $2.70 to place, and $2.10 to show on Pretty Sweet Jess. First Famous Prize returned $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. O Seeyalater paid $2.10 to show.

Also rans included Tincture Of Time, who finished fourth, and O Winsmore, who finished fifth.

Editor's note: A photo of the winner will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.