GJR Rooster holds off challengers to post the fastest qualifying time in the Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge trials at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–APRIL 24, 2026– Two trial races were contested Friday night at Sam Houston Race Park to determine qualifiers for the $43,478 Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge (G3), with the 870-yard final scheduled for May 9. A group of seasoned distance runner took center stage, led by GJR Rooster, who posted the fastest qualifying time of the night.

GJR Rooster proved best in the second trial, engaging early before maintaining his advantage through the stretch to stop the clock in :46.493 seconds while earning an 88 speed index.

The five-year-old gelding is a $15,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate bred by Gerald Rich and owned by Richard Young, Joe David Yates and Zack Stinebaugh, who also trains. Gilberto Linares was aboard for the winning effort.

Sired by stakes winner This Is An Eagle, a sire of more than $2.9 million in progeny earnings, GJR Rooster is out of the Thoroughbred mare Granny Grump by A Little Illegal. His female family includes stakes winners Arrears TB ($273,357) and Brite’s High ($180,237).

An established distance competitor, he now holds a record of 21-4-8-4 with earnings exceeding $168,000. His resume includes victories in the Benny Pennington Memorial (G2) and the Lone Star Park Distance Championship, and he enters the final off a third-place finish in the King Rick Rack Stakes (G2).

Second fastest qualifier Fire Bolt B captured the opening trial in gate-to-wire fashion, drawing clear by 1 1/2 lengths while stopping the clock in :46.531 seconds and earning an 88 speed index. The four-year-old gelding is bred by Bielau Oaks and owned by Tony Sedillo and RC Racing, with Richard Sedillo serving as trainer and Nestor Duran aboard.

Fire Bolt B is sired by Bolt Of Fire, a half-brother to champion Imperial Eagle, and is out of the FDD Dynasty mare She A Elektra B, a half-sister to stakes winner Sure Shot B ($573,548). His female line also traces to stakes winner Smart Alibi Lady ($41,060), dam of Grade 1 winner Luck N Ofive ($370,874).

He now owns a record of 14-5-1-0 with $64,304 in earnings and continues his pursuit of a first stakes victory after qualifying to last year’s Lone Star Park Distance Championship.

Third fastest qualifier DM Special Cat turned in a strong closing performance in the second trial, rallying from fourth to finish second behind GJR Rooster while stopping the clock in :46.575 seconds for an 87 speed index. The four-year-old gelding is a homebred for Donna Mushinski, trained by Kie Mushinski and ridden by Claudio Ponce Aguilar.

By Stray Cat and out of the stakes-placed Visionarian mare Sophies Special, DM Special Cat descends from stakes winner Special Laddie ($63,050) and stakes winner Feel The Touch ($21,874). He now holds a record of 15-2-5-2 with earnings of more than $40,000 and is set to make his first career stakes appearance in the upcoming final.

View full qualifier list HERE.

The top qualifiers will return to Sam Houston Race Park on May 9 for the Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge (G3) final, where GJR Rooster will look to add another stakes victory to his accomplished resume.

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