The Grand Legend, ridden by Noe Villatoro, wins the $50,000 Let 'Er Rip Lip Chip Stakes by 3 3/4-lengths at Lone Star Park on Saturday night.

© Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

GRANDE PRAIRIE, TX–NOVEMBER 25, 2023–870-yards seems to be the magic distance for The Grand Legend, who scored his third consecutive 870 stakes victory this season in the $50,000 Let 'Er Rip Lip Chip Stakes at Lone Star Park on Saturday night.

Piloted by regular rider, Noe Villatoro, The Grand Legend clocked a 99 speed index in :45.434 seconds. The post-time favorite without a doubt was the clear victor taking lead right out of the gates and keeping it to the wire for an impressive 3 3/4-length victory over Daycruiser. 

After cashing in the $28,800 winner's portion of the purse, The Grand Legend's lifetime earnings increase to $245,678. The victory paid $3.20 to win on 6/5 odds.

The Grand Legend won the Heritage Place Juvenile in his 2018 freshman campaign, but had not again won a stakes race until this season. The 11-time winner won the Lone Star Distance Challenge [G3] in September, AQHA Distance Challenge Championship Stakes [G1] in October. The three 870 victories should be put him in top contention for this year's AQHA distance champion honors.

The winning connections of The Grand Legend accept the $50,000 Let 'Er Rip Lip Chip Stakes trophy at Lone Star Park on Saturday. © Dustin Orona Photography/Lone Star Park

Trainer Adan Guzman saddled The Grand Legend for owner James Whitener. The seven-year-old son of FDD Going Grand was bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, LLC out of the Tres Seis mare Legendary Seis.

Runner up Daycruiser, ridden by Bobby Dow, just came off a stakes win last month in the AQHA Youth Racing Experience Stakes at Lone Star Park. The son of champion sire Favorite Cartel was prepped by J.J. Gonzalez III and has four career wins with $81,705 in the bank.

Breeder Cade Burns of California sold Daycruiser for $32,000 in the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The five-year-old gelding is currently owned by Joe Johnson and is out of Sereni Tea Rose by First Down Dash.

Volcoms Favorite came in third under the guidance of Gerardo Vera. The four-year-old gelding has placed second or third in his last three stakes attempts, including the AQHA Distance Challenge Championship [G1] and The Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes [G2].

The J.J. Gonzales trained gelding has three career wins with $90,293 in earnings. Volcoms Favorite was bred by George Mitchell in Oklahoma out of the Volcom mare Volcoms Delight. The four-year-old gelding is owned by Nove Racing, LLC.

O Donovan Rossa, Hi High Hopes, One Fast Cajun and Princess Classic round out the order of finish. Flyin Rusty was scratched by his trainer.