Chicks Cartell, under champion jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez, won the $25,000 Walter Merick Stakes on Friday evening at Fair Meadows in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK–JULY 17, 2026–Chicks Cartell surged to the front turning for home and drew off impressively to earn the first stakes victory of his career in Friday night's $27,500 Walter Merrick Stakes at Fair Meadows, covering 870 yards in 45.303 while earning a 104 speed index.

The 5-year-old chestnut gelding defeated multiple graded stakes winner O Donovan Rossa by 4½ lengths, while Chickn Hock finished another ½-length back in third. The victory was worth $14,868, boosting Chicks Cartell's career bankroll to $87,633 from nine lifetime starts with a record of four wins, three seconds, and no thirds.

Bred in California by Martha F. Wells, Chicks Cartell is by leading sire Favorite Cartel and out of Chicks Tell, by Chicks Beduino. Racing for owner Jose Mendoza Aguilar, the gelding is conditioned by Jesus Ruiz and was confidently handled by jockey Gonzalo Gutierrez.

The winning connections of Chicks Cartell accept the Walter Merrick Stakes trophy Saturday evening.
© Jack Coady Photography

Sent off at 4.20-1, Chicks Cartell tracked the early pace along the rail before shaking clear in the stretch to post the decisive victory.

Runner-up O Donovan Rossa, an 8-year-old chestnut gelding by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Shanachee, by Country Chicks Man, continued his outstanding stakes career with another strong effort. Bred in Oklahoma by J. Garvan Kelly, the veteran races for Kelly Yother Equine, LLC, is trained by Dee Keener, and was ridden by Roman Cruz. After setting the pace four-wide, he gamely held second, earning $5,706 to increase his lifetime earnings to $432,169.

Another half-length back came Chickn Hock, a 4-year-old colt by champion Kiss My Hocks out of the champion mare PJ Chick In Black, by Desirio. Bred in Oklahoma by D. Bowen, S. Taylor and J. Smith Farms, Chickn Hock races for Christopher J. Lykins, Melody Lykins, and Renee K. Wilson.

Trained by Clinton Crawford and ridden by David Cabrera, the colt was steadied and shuffled approaching the quarter-mile marker before rallying to finish third. His $3,226 share of the purse pushed his career earnings to $52,663. Chickn Hock brought $350,000 at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Mister Lights Out finished fourth, followed by Jess Wont Miss, who was disqualified from fifth to sixth, followed by Invincible Streak, and Chikindoit.

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