By Martha Claussen

SELMA, TX—JULY 27, 2018—A field of seven distance specialists went postward in the $20,00 Benny Pennington Memorial Stakes, honoring the late Texas horseman.

Jessa Little Rusty avenged his runner-up finish in last year’s edition of the race, flying down the lane under Gilbert Ortiz to edge Stolis Pro for the victory. The final time of the 870-yard feature was :46.506 seconds.

Owned by Louis M. Howard and trained by John Stinebaugh, Jessa Little Rusty was making his 44th career start. Bred in Texas by Clyde Wilmott, the 8-year-old son of Mr Jess Perry out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Rustys Quickid is no stranger to stakes company with victories in the 2014 AQHA Distance Challenge and 2016 Remington Park Distance Challenge.

Jerry Windham’s homebred Stolis Pro ran a game second under leading rider Francisco Calderon. Multiple-stakes winner The Field Cricket was third and Aces Over Five completed the superfecta.

Sent off at 7-2, Jessa Little Rusty paid 9.00 for the win, which was his ninth career victory. With the winner’s check for $12,000, he has banked $253,238.