Gillespie County Fairground hosted the 40,250 Hill Country Classic Stakes on Sunday.

© Jenny Barton

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

FREDERICKSBURG, TX—AUGUST 24, 2025—Apollitical Ike delivered a commanding performance to capture the $40,250 Hill Country Classic Stakes on Sunday at Gillespie County Fairground, covering the 400-yard distance in 19.563 seconds while earning a 98 speed index.

Ridden confidently by jockey H. Hernandez, the graded stakes-winning gelding broke sharply, quickly secured the lead, and powered home to win by one and one-quarter lengths on a fast track despite a five-mph crosswind. The victory earned owner Edgar A. Moreno the winner’s share of the purse, valued at $24,150, and marked another stakes success for trainer Victor Oviedo.

Bred in Texas by Mike and Leslie Turner, Apollitical Ike is a four-year-old gelding by champion Apollitical Blood out of Eye This Candy, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Sent off as the 1.10 favorite, he lived up to expectations with a flawless trip that saw him open up on the field without trouble.

Apollitical Ike has won eight of 19 career starts and earned $184,783. His wins include the Sam Houston Classic Stakes(G2) and EVD Derby.

Kiss My Hat, a four-year-old gelding by Kiss My Hocks out of Sr Fly Baby, by FDD Dynasty, finished second after a strong late rally. Bred in Oklahoma by Jovetta Meredith, Kiss My Hat is owned by Marisol Alvarado and trained by Heber Deyta-Melendez, with Victor Urieta Jr. in the saddle.

Starting off a win in the C.C.F.A. Dutchman Stakes on July 19, he collected $8,050 for his effort. Kiss My Hat was a $27,000 RNA at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale and has earned $53,354.

Third place went to Jess A Salty Candy, a four-year-old gelding by Jess Good Candy out of This Candys Salty, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Bred in Oklahoma by PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC, he is owned by Stacy Barr and Carol A. Addison and trained by John Stinebaugh.

Ridden by Ali Rivera, the graded stakes-placed gelding finished a half behind the runner-up to earn $4,025. He was purchased for $50,000 at the 2022 Ruidoso Yearling Sale and has earned $100,904.

The pari-mutuel payoffs reflected Apollitical Ike’s solid favoritism, returning $4.20 to win, $2.80 to place, and $3.00 to show. Kiss My Hat paid $2.60 to place and $3.00 to show, while Jess a Salty Candy returned $3.60 to show.

Mexican Kash, Apicasso Jess, Insta Millionaire, Hock It Is, Jess JJ Watt Aw, and Kartendo Fast Dash completed the field. Lil Kool Cat was scratched.

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

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