Rock Ya Later, under Oscar Andrade Jr., drives past Y O Zoomin Ollie to win the $40,250 Sandia Stakes, on Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 18, 2025–Seasoned distance runner Rock Ya Later added another highlight to his career Saturday evening, rallying late under Oscar Andrade, Jr. to win the $40,250 Sandia Stakes at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The 870-yard test, run as an undercard feature to the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship (G1), was one of several major graded races on the AQHA Challenge Championship card.

The 5-year-old black gelding completed the distance in 45.102 seconds, earning a 94 speed index, and claimed the winner’s share of $19,320 for owner Rockin J Running Horses. Trained by Tammy Johnson, Rock Ya Later stalked the leaders before driving past Y O Zoomin Ollie in the final yards to prevail by a neck.

Bred in Texas by Melissa L. Slayton, Rock Ya Later is by Rock Solid Jess and out of Dosvedanya by Separatist. Saturday’s win marked his first stakes victory of the season and his second career stakes win, following last year’s King Rick Rack Stakes (G2).

The winning connections of Rock Ya Later accept the Sandia Stakes trophy at Albuquerque Downs on Saturday. © Coady Media

He has been a model of consistency this year, finishing second in the Governor’s Cup Marathon Stakes (G3) and third in both the Remington Park Distance Championship Stakes (G3) and Will Rogers Downs Distance Challenge Stakes (G3). He also a finalist in the Remington Park Distance Challenge Stakes (G2), SLM Big Daddy Stakes (G2), and Pauls Valley Stakes (G2).

From 33 career starts, Rock Ya Later has compiled a record of 5 wins, 5 seconds, and 9 thirds, with total earnings of $227,532.

Runner-up Y O Zoomin Ollie, ridden by Cordarelton Benn for trainer Travis Lusk and owner Mike Harrigfeld, set the pace throughout before yielding late. The 4-year-old gray gelding by Fiftyshadezofgrey, out of Zoomin Daphne by Azoom, was bred in Wyoming by Gerald F. Kaul.

From 17 career starts, Y O Zoomin Ollie has recorded 2 wins, 3 seconds, and 4 thirds, with $27,497 in earnings. Earlier this year, he finished third in the Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge Stakes.

Multiple stakes winner Dance The Dust Off completed the trifecta under Nakia Teeter for trainer Jason Olmstead and owner Jewell Ramirez. The 9-year-old brown gelding by Coronas Blackdiamond, out of Magic Yard (TB) by Ghazi (TB), was bred in New Mexico by Sarah E. Donaldson Rioux and purchased for $3,500 at the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

From 39 career starts, he has notched 15 wins, 7 seconds, and 2 thirds, earning $255,936. A seven-time stakes winner, Dance The Dust Off captured the Bear River Stakes earlier this season.

Completing the order of finish was Bp Desert Streak, Big Daddy Dan, Big Moon Dawg, Lewie Gotta Go, and Ocean Voyage.

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