Cardiac Cowboy and jockey Armando Alvidrez power clear to a 1 ½-length victory over Mystic Paint in the $50,000 Two Rivers Stakes-G3 on Friday night at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallionSearch

ALTOONA, IA–SEPTEMBER 26, 2025–Cardiac Cowboy delivered a long-awaited stakes win in the $50,000 Two Rivers Stakes-G3 Friday evening at Prairie Meadows.

Under jockey Armando Alvidrez, the 4-year-old gelding led gate to wire and crossed the finish 1 1/2 lengths in front of rival Mystic Paint. He stopped the clock in 19.847 seconds, posting a 91 speed index, and returned $6.60 to win at odds of 2-1. The victory was worth $27,000 to his connections.

Cardiac Cowboy has been knocking on the door all season, with placings in the Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2 and Keokuk Stakes-G3, and finalist appearances in the Leo Stakes-G1, Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1, Eastex Stakes-G2, and Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes.

The winning connections of Cardiac Cowboy accept the Two Rivers Stakes-G3 trophy at Prairie Meadows on Friday. © Jack Coady Photography

The son of Flying Cowboy 123  had already captured the Valley Junction Futurity-G3 and Altoona Derby earlier in his career. From 25 starts, he has 10 wins, 3 seconds, and four thirds, with earnings of $365,859.

Bred in Oklahoma by Jo Rice, Cardiac Cowboy is out of Southard Cartel by Carters Cartel. He is owned by Tom and Lou Ann Smith and Amber Olmstead and trained by Jason Olmstead. He was a $30,000 repurchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale.

Runner-up Mystic Paint, the heavy favorite, sat in third for much of the race before rallying under jockey Ramiro Garcia to earn place honors.

The $43,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale purchase, bred in Oklahoma by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC, is by Pyc Paint Your Wagon and out of Jess So Sixy by Mr Jess Perry. Jason Olmstead trains him for owners Stone Chase Stables LLC and Solo Select Horses LLC.

Mystic Paint was the 2024 Champion Three-Year-Old Colt. He has been a constant rival to Cardiac Cowboy, having defeated him earlier this year in the Keokuk Stakes-G3.

His resume includes runner-up finishes in the Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2 and Mighty Deck Three Stakes-G2, and finalist efforts in the Leo Stakes-G1, Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1, and Remington Park Championship Challenge-G2.

During his sophomore season, he won the Will Rogers Derby Challenge and finished second in the Ruidoso Derby-G1. Mystic Paint has made 23 starts with six wins, 6 seconds, and two thirds, earning $337,538 to date. He will be offered at the upcoming Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale as Hip #419 on November 1.

A Legacy Of Tales, last year’s Two Rivers Stakes champion, closed strongly under Cristian Esqueda to finish third, just a head behind Mystic Paint. The 5-year-old gelding, bred and owned by Donald J. Friesen, is trained by Stacy Charette-Hill.

By Wagon Tales and out of Legacys a Streakin by Streakin La Jolla, A Legacy Of Tales has battled alongside the top two all year. He was a finalist in the Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2, Keokuk Stakes-G3, and Boyd Morris Memorial-G2. His third-place finish Friday was worth $6,000, bringing his lifetime earnings to $321,179 from 31 starts, including 10 wins, 2 seconds, and four thirds.

Mr Kash Wagon finished fourth, and Kiss My Wine completed the field.

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