Lynnder 16, ridden by Edwin Escobedo, held on for the win and clocked the fastest qualifying time to the $20,000 added Q-Racing Video Will Rogers Distaff Challenge on Tuesday afternoon.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 12, 2023–Two trials were held Tuesday afternoon for the $20,000 added Q-Racing Video Will Rogers Distaff Challenge. It was seasoned stakes veteran Lynnder 16 who clocked the fastest qualifying time.

Lynnder 16, piloted by Edwin Escobedo, popped out of the gates in the lead and held it to the wire for the best time in :19.701 seconds. The heavy favorite clocked a 99 speed index and the 400-yard victory paid $2.20 to win.

Just coming off the Prairie Meadows Distaff Challenge Stakes[G3] win in August, Lynnder 16 now has 20 career victories and $857,263 in the bank. The 11-time stakes winner has won the Will Rogers Distaff Challenge Stakes the last two years in a row. 

James and Marilyn Helzer bred Lynnder 16 in Oklahoma out of the Corona Cartel mare Tinys Corona Queen. The seven-year-old daughter of Apollitical Jess was a 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate for $31,000. She is now owned by Tom Maher and Richard Tobin.  

Mperativ, ridden by Ramiro Garcia placed second a neck behind Lynnder 16 for the second fastest time in :19.734 seconds. The three-time winning daughter of Apollitical Jess has $120,568 in career earnings and has been a finalist in four graded stakes races. 

Breeder Bobby D. Cox of Texas sold Mperativ to his current owner Jeffrey Scott Brooks for $36,000 in the 2020 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The four-year-old filly is out of Miss Aguilar by Tres Seis.

Trainer Jason Olmstead conditioned both Lynnder 16 and Mperativ, as well as one other qualifier Political Fire.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $20,000 added Q-Racing Video Will Rogers Distaff Challenge Trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be ran on October 1, 2023.