Sydney Jack is the ultimate “close, but no cigar” horse. The Texas bred filly has been close in so many finals, but she turned her luck around Thursday, November 12 in the inaugural running of the $66,000 Horseshoe Indianapolis Oaks at Horseshoe Indianapolis. The race was created to encourage ownership of good fillies with hopes of keeping them in the state as breeding stock in the future. Sydney Jack will most likely fit that mold.

Sydney Jack did everything right in her trial, winning it by one-half length with Rolando Pina aboard. She was the third fastest finisher from 20 sophomores in the trials and came into the race ready for action.

Pina was aboard again, a spot he’s been in for all five wins from Sydney Jack. They broke from post eight and were in contention early with several across the track, but it was fastest qualifier Seven Beaches and Daniel Martinez who took over and created the leadership role in the 350 yard dash. As the wire neared, Cynter of Attention and Irving Moncada began to inch up from the center of the track, but it was the quick foot of Sydney Jack from the outside that captured the most attention. She was rolling the quickest in the final strides to score the victory by a head over Seven Beaches in the four-horse photo. Suzys Kristine, the second fastest qualifier from the trials, finished third for Jockey Giovani Vazquez-Gomez. Time of the sprint was :17.561 to establish the race record moving forward.

“We (Eduardo Diaz on Eggleston’s other starter Remember Da Queen) were talking on the way back to the winner’s circle and he (Eduardo) asked me if I thought I won it,” explained Pina. “I said ‘I think I did, but I don’t want to jinx it.’ She stumbled a little out of the gate, but she got the ground underneath her pretty quick and hit the track just right and got me to the wire. I’m really happy for the owners to get this win.”

Sydney Jack was the fourth choice in the field of 10, paying $12.40 for the win. The daughter of Dulce Sin Tacha was a $12,000 purchase as a yearling at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale by Gordon Timm. He was then joined by his grandson, Jordan, and Gabi Timm as part owners on the filly. Tim Eggleston trains the filly, who is now four for seven in 2026. It was her first career stakes victory as she pushed her career bankroll over the $109,000 mark.

“She (Sydney Jack) has won every trial she’s ever been in, but she can’t come back and win the final,” noted Vicki Lundstrum, longtime partner of Gordon Timm. “But she finally did it today. It’s our last night here this season, so it’s a great way to end the meet.”

Runner-up Seven Beaches, a daughter of Escondido Beach out of Eyem Sixes, by Sixes Liaison, finished a head behind the winner under jockey Luz Daniel Martinez. Trained by Anthony F. Cunningham for owner Pamela Brickley Hann, the Indiana-bred filly entered the final off a victory in her October 21 trial. She also won a trial for the Harley Greene Derby earlier this season and finished third in both the Blue River Derby Stakes and QHRAI Stallion Service Auction Derby. Bred by Shelly A. Chavis, Seven Beaches has won four of 16 career starts, with two seconds and three thirds, and earnings of $102,453.

Suzys Kristine finished another neck back in third under Giovani Vazquez-Gomez after steadily gaining ground in the 350-yard contest. The daughter of One Fabulous Eagle out of Suzy Cartel, by Corona Cartel, entered the race following a runner-up finish in her October 21 trial. Earlier this season, she captured the Julie Veltman Overnight Stakes on August 29 and finished second in the Paul Martin Overnight Stakes on August 4. Owned and trained by Jessica A. Vazquez, the Texas-bred filly was bred by Marshall S. Wier. She has compiled a record of two wins, two seconds and three thirds from nine career starts, with earnings of $58,028.

The Horseshoe Indianapolis Oaks was the final Quarter Horse stakes out of 34 held throughout the 2026 racing season. The meet concludes Friay, November 13 with two final Quarter Horse races to close out the year.

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Parsons Family Limited Partnership’s homebred Rockin With Energy, a two-time winner of the Grade 1 James Dreyer Charger Bar Handicap, has been retired, trainer Paul Jones said via text earlier this week.

The 5-year-old mare by Parsons Rock out of Grade 1 winner Terrific Energy completes her outstanding career with eight wins from 22 starts and earnings of $359,635. Foaled on Valentine’s Day (February 14, 2021), Rockin With Energy was all heart and speed at Los Alamitos. In addition to her Charger Bar victories, Rockin With Energy won the 2025 Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap, as well as the Justanold Love Handicap and California Breeders Debutante in 2024. She also finished second in the 2023 Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity.

All told, the multiple stakes winner competed in either a stakes race or a stakes trial in 19 of her 21 career starts. Her only two non-stakes events were runner-up efforts in a maiden race during her racing debut on April 23, 2023, and a second-place finish in an allowance during her final career start on October 10, 2026.

When Rockin With Energy won her second consecutive Charger Bar earlier this year, she joined Stylish Jess BR, Quirky, and Kiss Thru Fire as the only mares to successfully defend their title in the 25-year history of the race. Jones, who recently tied Blane Schvaneveldt’s track record with his 3,982nd Quarter Horse win at Los Alamitos, saddled Rockin With Energy in each of her 21 career starts.

“Rockin With Energy is a great mare,” Jones said. “She has a 2-year-old filly coming next year.”

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All-time leading money-earning Quarter Horse Kj Desparado added another Grade 1 victory to his remarkable career Saturday night, holding off a determined Stetsonn by a neck in the $290,375 AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1) at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The 7-year-old gelding, sent off as the 6-5 favorite, completed the 440 yards in 21.063 seconds, earning a 98 speed index over a fast racing surface while facing a 4-mph headwind.

Ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. for trainer Wesley T. Giles, Kj Desparado broke sharply from post six, established an early advantage, and maintained a narrow lead through the stretch. Under a strong drive, the veteran champion turned back Stetsonn's challenge to secure the $133,573 winner's share.

The victory increased Kj Desparado's career earnings to $3,617,850, further extending his position as the richest racing American Quarter Horse in history.

Owned by John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares, Kj Desparado is a 7-year-old brown gelding by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Tres Veses, by Tres Seis. He was bred in Arizona by L&L Land & Cattle.

Saturday's victory improved his career record to 19 wins, 11 seconds, and one third from 38 starts.

Kj Desparado's extraordinary racing career includes victories in the All American Futurity (G1), Texas Classic Futurity (G1), Ruidoso Derby (G1), All American Derby (G1), Texas Classic Derby (G1), All American Gold Cup (G1), and two editions of the Refrigerator Championship (G1), among other major stakes.

His latest championship triumph added another prestigious title to a career that has spanned five racing seasons and established him among the sport's all-time greats.

Stetsonn, a 4-year-old gelding by champion Jess Good Candy, turned in a determined runner-up performance, finishing a neck behind the winner and earning $58,075.

Breaking from post seven under champion jockey James A. Flores, Stetsonn raced prominently throughout, dueling with the winner before narrowly missing in the final strides.

Trained by Dean R. Frey for owners G. R. Carter Jr. and Shaena Carter, Stetsonn is a home bred for the Carters. He is out of Stella Lou, by One Famous Eagle.

Stetsonn was an $18,000 RNA at the 2023 Ruidoso Yearling Sale.

The gelding has compiled five wins and one second from 10 career starts, with earnings of $201,029. His accomplishments include a victory in the Remington Park Championship Challenge Stakes (G2), along with finalist appearances in the Ruidoso Derby (G1) and Remington Park Derby (RG1).

Scoops Dynasty completed the trifecta, finishing another half-length behind Stetsonn to earn $29,038 for owner Edward J. McNelis.

The 7-year-old gelding, ridden by Jacob Enriquez for trainer Diego Cervantes, raced in fourth early before advancing into third and holding that position by a neck.

Bred by Edward J. and Von Zae McNelis, Scoops Dynasty is by five-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Bye Sweet Girl, by Dashin Bye.

An accomplished Grade 1 winner himself, Scoops Dynasty has earned $844,725 from 36 career starts, recording 11 wins, nine seconds, and four thirds.

His stakes victories include the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship (G1), two editions of the Go Man Go Handicap (G1), Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1), and Golden State Derby (G2).

Hooked N Gone finished fourth, a neck behind Scoops Dynasty, followed by Mysterious Cartel in fifth, Bold N Beautiful in sixth, Eagles Up in seventh, Bee A Freight Train in eighth, Shaundas Eagle in ninth, and Shakers No Secret in tenth.

The championship highlighted Saturday night's AQHA Racing Challenge Championship program at The Downs at Albuquerque, bringing together some of the nation's most accomplished older Quarter Horses.

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With two possible berths on the line for the Grade 1 Champion of Champions, seven outstanding Quarter Horses will be looking to secure their spots in the 440-yard race when they face off in the $20,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

The field for the 400-yard race has nine horses entered, but two of the entrants, Norco and Favorite Jesshawk, have already earned berths to the Champion of Champions, to be held here on Saturday, December 12.

In addition to Norco and Favorite Jesshawk, the following horses have also earned presumptive berths to the Champion of Champions: Lethal Cowboy 123, KJ Desparado, Gf Shes Sinful, Mask Mandate, Political Twist, Beuteeful, and Effortless Favorite. Effortless Favorite is the only one of these horses currently not on the grounds at Los Alamitos, which opens the possibility that a second berth is up for grabs on Sunday night. The Z. Wayne Griffin always offers at least one berth to the Champion of Champions.

From among the seven that are still vying for a Champion of Champions spot, the horse with the fastest time will earn the presumptive invite to Quarter Horse racing’s most prestigious race. If additional spots open up, then the horses with the next-fastest times will earn the invitations.

The list of hopefuls is headed by Gene Cox’s homebred Toastin Heros, a 4-year-old gelding by Valiant Hero, who began his 2026 campaign with a victory in the Grade 1 Championship at Sunland Park at 440 yards on February 7. Toastin Heros followed that victory with a ¾-length win in the Restricted Grade 1 Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes at Remington Park. His other three outings have all come against some of the best fields of older runners seen in 2026. Those included a second-place finish in the Grade 1 All American Gold Cup, a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Albuquerque Fall Championship, and a seventh-place finish in the Grade 1 Debbie Schauf Invitational Remington Park Championship. A winner in eight of 20 career starts, Toastin Heros has earned $297,100 of his $484,747 in career earnings in 2026. He’ll start from post number three.

Stephen Harris’ Paradise Pete won the All American Gold Cup by ¾ of a length over Toastin Heros and has been at his best in his last four starts at The Downs at Albuquerque. Since the 4th of July, the Maryland-bred runner by Flying Cowboy 123 has won a top-level allowance race, won the Grade 2 Mr Jet Moore, scored his Gold Cup win, and then ran fourth after bumping in the Albuquerque Fall Championship. Top rider Jesus Rios Ayala will pilot the Harris-bred winner of seven races and $284,493. Diego Cervantes will saddle Paradise Pete from post number eight.

Ruben Mares and Kathy and John Lee’s KJ Born To Be Wild does have racing experience at Los Alamitos after running a game third in the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship. The Jason Giles trainee had previously raced at Albuquerque, and his efforts there included a third-place finish in the Mr Jet Moore. The 4-year-old son of Apollitical Jess ran second in the Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby and third in the Grade 1 All American Derby last year. Eduardo Nicasio will ride him from post six.

Outlaw Farms LLC’s Midnite Smokin is another star making his second local start. Trained by James J. Gonzales II, the sophomore gelding will be looking for an improved performance after running fourth in the Azure Three Stakes at 220 yards. Prior to his Los Alamitos debut, he ran fourth to Effortless Favorite in the All American Derby and second to Political Twist in their All American trial. Christian Cardenas will ride the gelding by The Marfa Lights from post number four.

Equestix Consulting LLC’s Invasive won the Azure Three thanks to a sensational finish and now faces the strongest field of his career. The son of Favorite Cartel does have good experience at 440 yards, having won a trial to the Rainbow Derby last year and most recently finishing third in the Grade 3 AQHA Racing California Challenge Championship. Valentin Zamudio will saddle Invasive, who’ll be ridden by Ruben Lozano.

Link Newcomb’s Cattail Cove, who at the age of nine is the oldest horse in the Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials, will be making his 65th career start while hoping for a return trip to the Champion of Champions after participating in the 2022 running. The venerable runner is also only $1,470 away from going over the $900,000 mark in career earnings. The Steve Burns-bred runner is certainly the Cinderella story of this race.

Ed Allred’s Up For Everything will be looking to join his stablemate Norco in the Champion of Champions field. Trained by Scott Willoughby, Up For Everything was seventh to Norco in the Robert Boniface, but earlier this year he won the Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship. Meanwhile, Norco and Favorite Jesshawk are surely using this race as a tune-up for the big one, the Champion of Champions, less than a month away. The field from the rail out is as follows: Invasive, Favorite Jesshawk, Toastin Heros, Midnite Smokin, Cattail Cove, KJ Born To Be Wild, Up For Everything, Paradise Pete, and Norco.

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