O Donovan Rossa Draws Clear in $50,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship

O Donovan Rossa added another stakes victory to his accomplished distance racing career Saturday night, drawing clear by two lengths in the $50,000 Lone Star Park Distance Championship Stakes at Lone Star Park.

Ridden by Roman Cruz for trainer Dee Keener, the 8-year-old gelding broke from the inside post and battled for the early advantage before taking command and pulling away from his rivals. O Donovan Rossa completed the 870 yards in :46.605 over a fast track, earning an 86 speed index.

Master Reigns rallied to finish second, 3 1/2 lengths ahead of Handin Out Candy in third. Wynnchester, the even-money favorite, finished fourth, followed by Chicks Cartell, Eye Will Decide and Hidden Figures.

Owned by Kelly Yother Equine LLC, O Donovan Rossa entered Saturday's race off consecutive allowance victories at Will Rogers Downs on October 4 and October 20. Earlier this season, he finished second in the Walter Merrick Stakes at Fair Meadows and fourth in the Grade 2 Pauls Valley Stakes at Remington Park.

The victory marked another addition to an accomplished career that includes multiple graded stakes wins and a victory in the Grade 2 Remington Park Distance Challenge Stakes in April 2025. He also captured the Grade 2 Pauls Valley Stakes and Grade 2 Remington Park Distance Challenge Stakes in 2024.

Bred in Oklahoma by J Garvan Kelly, O Donovan Rossa is a son of leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the Country Chicks Man mare Shanachee. The $28,800 winner's share increased his career earnings to $492,503, with 17 wins from 54 starts.

Master Reigns, a 7-year-old gelding ridden by Raul Padilla Hernandez Jr. for trainer Marc E. Jungers, recovered from being squeezed back early to secure the runner-up position. The Texas-bred son of Dash Master Jess entered the race following an allowance victory at Lone Star Park on October 17.

Earlier this season, Master Reigns finished second in both the Grade 3 San Marcos Stakes at Retama Park and the Grade 3 Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes at Sam Houston Race Park. He also won the Jesse Yoakum Memorial 870 Stakes in 2025.

Owned by Bronc Richard Hawkins and bred in Texas by Richard Hawkins, Master Reigns is out of the He Will Reign mare Dancee Reigns. His $9,600 runner-up share increased his career earnings to $190,413.

Handin Out Candy, ridden by Ali Rivera for trainer Raul Ramirez, finished third after contesting the early pace before drifting outward and weakening late. The 7-year-old Alabama-bred gelding entered Saturday's contest following a runner-up effort in the Grade 1 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship Stakes at Albuquerque on October 17.

A multiple graded stakes winner, Handin Out Candy captured the Grade 2 Pauls Valley Stakes and Grade 2 Remington Park Distance Challenge Stakes earlier this season. His 2025 campaign included victories in the Grade 1 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship Stakes, Grade 2 The Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge Stakes and Grade 2 King Rick Rack Stakes.

Owned by Emilio Perez, Handin Out Candy was bred in Alabama by Paris Wixon. The son of Jess Good Candy is out of Ole Auntie Em, by Dash Ta Fame. His $5,280 third-place share increased his career earnings to $405,431.

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