O Donovan Rossa, under jockey Bryan Candanosa, winning the $25,806 Grade 3 AQHA Distance Will Rogers Challenge Stakes at Will Rogers Downs Sunday.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–OCTOBER 1, 2023–Multiple graded stakes winner O Donovan Rossa punched his ticket for a trip to Dallas after an impressive 3-1/4 length victory today in the $25,806 Grade 3 AQHA Distance Will Rogers Challenge Stakes at Will Rogers Downs.

Under jockey Bryan Candanosa, O Donovan Rossa sprinted clear of the field while clocking :45.936 seconds, a 94 speed index into a 6 mph crosswind.  It was the 10th career win in 331 starts for the 5-year-old son of leading sire Apollitical Jess.

Dee Keener trains the chestnut gelding for owner Kelly Yother Equine, LLC. J. Garvan Kelly bred O Donovan Rossa in Oklahoma from the Country Chicks Man mare Shanachee. The $13,419  Distance winner's purse today boosted his bank account to $245,184.

O Donovan Rossa's next start should be the Cox Distance Challenge Championship(G1) to be contested on Saturday, October 21 during the Bank of America Challenge Championship Night at Lone Star Park in Grand Prairie, Texas.

The winning connections of O Donovan Rossa accept the AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge Stakes trophy at Will Rogers Downs. © Coady Photography

Multiple graded stakes winner Dance The Dust Off and grade 3-placed The Dream dead-heated for second, earning $4,451 each for the effort.

Last year's Grade 1 Cox Distance Challenge Championship winner Dance The Dust Off is hoping to earn a starting spot in this year's championship after also finishing second in the AQHA Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge Stakes in June.

Trainer Clay Teeter conditions the Coronas Blackdiamond 7-year-old for owner Jewel Ramirez. Nakia Teeter ride the Grade 1 winner of $177,823.  Sarah E. Donaldson Rioux bred Dance The Dust Off in New Mexico from the Ghazi (TB) mare Magic Yard (TB).

Trainer Bradley Bolen sent out The Dream for owner-breeder Debra M. Gotovac. Roman Cruz had the riding call aboard the FDD Dynasty 4-year-old out of Eyesa Precious by Eyesa Special. Bred in Texas ,The Dream has earned $42,877 in 20 starts.

R U Freal and Df Storm Tales completed the field.

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The 2023 fall season officially began at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs September 11th and will concludes November 14th. Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is located 3 miles east of Claremore on Highway 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.