Gjr Rooster, under champion jockey Francisco Calderon, romps in the 50,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship Stakes on Saturday evening.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—NOVEMBER 1, 2025—Gjr Rooster delivered a commanding performance under jockey Francisco Calderón to capture the $50,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship Stakes on Saturday evening, covering 870 yards in 45.820 for a 95 speed index.

Contested over a fast track with a light crosswind of 1 mph, the race featured a field of seasoned distance Quarter Horses ages three and up.

The 4-year-old bay gelding by This Is An Eagle out of Granny Grump (TB), by A Little Illegal (TB), was bred in Texas by Gerald Rich and purchased for $15,500 at the 2022 TQHA Sale.

Owned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates, and Zack Stinebaugh, and trained by Stinebaugh, Gjr Rooster broke alertly, rushed up along the rail, and pulled away late to win by four and one-half lengths. The victory was worth $28,800 to his connections.

Gjr Rooster entered the Distance Championship off a runner-up effort in the $118,975 Grade 1 Q-Racing Video Challenge Championship in his last start on October 18. The graded multiple stakes winner has won four of 19 career starts and banked $152,079.

Eye Will Decide, a 7-year-old gelding by Majestic Cartel out of Valiant Lil Lady, by Valiant Hero, bred and owned by Bryon Gardner of Texas, finished second under Noe Villatoro for trainer Adan Guzman.

Pressing the leader three to five wide throughout, Eye Will Decide fought gamely to secure the runner-up spot by a neck, earning $9,600 for the effort. The graded stakes-placed gelding has earned $200,040 in 31 career starts.

Thrill And Fury, a 4-year-old sorrel gelding by Mister Fulton out of Hellnfury, by Furyofthewind, finished third for owner Ubaldo Fuentes Jr., trainer Brittany Tellez, and jockey Froylan Ramirez. The Texas-bred gelding endured bumping at the start but recovered to close strongly inside and claim third, taking home $5,280.

Gjr Rooster paid $2.40 to win, $2.20 to place, and $2.10 to show. Eye Will Decide returned $3.60 to place and $3.20 to show, while Thrill and Fury paid $5.20 to show. The $1 Exacta (3-7) returned $4.50, the $0.50 Trifecta (3-7-4) paid $16.60, and the $0.10 Superfecta (3-7-4-8) returned $14.71.

Following the top three were Kvn Valiant Corona, Master Reigns, Fire Bolt B, and Superfragilistic. Vp Rocket Ryon was scratched by the stewards.

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