Jockey Mario Delgado guides Wynnchester (#6) to a hard-fought head victory in the $26,554 AQHA Distance Challenge Final Stakes on Sunday at Will Rogers Downs.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 28, 2025–Wynnchester finally broke through at the stakes level on Sunday afternoon, scoring a determined head victory in the $26,554 Q-Racing Will Rogers Distance Challenge-G3.

With Mario Delgado in the irons, Wynnchester stopped the clock in 46.045 seconds for 870 yards, earning a 93 speed index. The  870-yard win was worth $13,012 for owner Lucky Ladies. Sent off at 5-1 odds, the 4-year-old gelding returned $12.20 to win.

The winning connections of Wynnchester accept the $26,554 Q-Racing Will Rogers Distance Challenge trophy at Will Rogers Downs on Sunday. © Jack Coady Photography

Trained by Mike Joiner, the effort marked his third career win and his first in stakes company after placing second in the Pauls Valley Stakes-G2, Remington Park Distance Challenge-G2, and fourth in the Remington Park Distance Championship-G1 earlier this season. He now has $54,280 in total earnings.

Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, Wynnchester is a son of Favorite Cartel. A $90,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale purchase in 2022, he is out of Nellie Delaney, by FDD Dynasty.

Runner-up The Dream, ridden by Agustin Silva for trainer Brad Bolen, set the pace from the gate and fought gamely before getting nipped at the wire. The 6-year-old gelding clocked 46.058 seconds with a 93 speed index.

Owned and bred in Texas by Debra M. Gotovac, The Dream is by FDD Dynasty and is out of Eyesa Precious, by Eyesa Special. An eight-time stakes finalist, he previously placed second in the 2023 Will Rogers Distance Challenge Championship-G1 and has $52,760 in total earnings.

Rock Ya Later finished another head back in third under Travis Cunningham, for the second consecutive year in this event. The 5-year-old gelding recorded 46.073 seconds and also earned a 93 speed index. The third-place earnings boosted his career totals to $205,424.

The son of Rock Solid Jess is a 14-time stakes finalist and has already earned black type this year in the Remington Park Distance Championship-G1, Governors Cup Marathon Stakes-G3, and San Marcos Stakes. He won last year’s King Rick Rack Stakes-G2.

Tammy Johnson saddled Rock Ya Later for Rockin J Running Horses. He was bred in Texas by Melissa L. Slayton out of Dosvedanya, by Separatist.

The order of finish was completed by Dance the Dust Off in fourth, Fl Rizzo fifth, Into the Lite sixth, and No Faux seventh.

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