Challenge


CJs Rocksolid Rallies To Win Remington Park Distance Challenge
CJs Rocksolid, under jockey Josh Romero, winning the Remington Park Distance Challenge on Sunday.

© Dustin Orona Photography
CJs Rocksolid Rallies To Win Remington Park Distance Challenge

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK—MAY 14, 2017—CJs Rocksolid won the Grade 3, $57,330 American Quarter Horse Association Remington Park Distance Challenge on Sunday with a sharp stretch rally.

Sent off at 6-1 odds in the betting, jockey Josh Romero allowed his mount to settle in the 870-yard race and save his best stride for the stretch run. CJs Rocksolid rallied to run by Thespeedprofessor, who opened up to lead by over five lengths coming off the turn.

AQHA Chief Racing Officer Janet VanBebber presents the winning connections of Cjs Rocksolid the Remington Park Distance Challenge stakes trophy. © Dustin Orona Photography
"We knew the 4-horse (Thespeedprofessor) was going to break out of there with a lot of speed. My horse had a really, really good break and got right behind the speed, circled him and made a big run at the end."

CJs Rocksolid broke from the number two post-position in the six-horse field, which was a key to success according to his conditioner.

"He’s nothing but heart, he’s just full of heart," beamed trainer Tammy Johnson. "We got lucky with a good draw and he got to do his thing. Josh rode him perfect."

Owned and bred in Texas by Rockin J Running Horses of Gatesville, Texas, CJs Rocksolid passed Thespeedprofessor in mid-stretch then drew clear to win by 2-1/2 lengths over Jessa Little Rusty who could not match the closing kick of the winner. CJs Rocksolid covered the distance in 45.404 seconds over a fast track.

CJs Rocksolid paid $14.40 to win, $5 to place and $2.60 to show. Jessa Little Rusty paid $2.60 to place and $2.10 to show. Thespeedprofessor was the wagering favorite at 4-5 odds, and held third, 3-1/2 lengths behind the winner to pay $2.10 to show.

CJS Rocksolid is a 7-year-old gelded son of Rock Solid Jess from The Signature mare Sultry Miss. He earned $27,518 to push his career money to $267,762 in winning his eighth lifetime event from 55 races with three of those wins at Remington Park. This is the first Remington Park Distance Challenge win for all of the connections.

Sunday's victory also secures CJS Rocksolid a starting spot in the Grade 1  $105,000 Guaranteed AQHA Distance Challenge Championship to be run October 14th at Prairie Meadows.

Trainer John Stinebaugh saddled multiple graded winner Jessa Little Rusty to his second-place effort for owner Louis Howard. Ricky Ramirez rode the Mr Jess Perry 7-year-old out of Rustys Quickid by Royal Quick Dash. The bay gelding pocketed $11,753 to bring his earnings mark to $211,365.

Darling Farms' Thespeedprofessor picked up $5,33 for third. Michelle Hurdle saddled the Furyofthewind gelding out of Dreams For Lyndise by Takin On The Cash. Kirk Goodfellow bred the graded-stakes-placed earner of $54,319 in Oklahoma. Mario Delgado was riding.

Give It To Shaq, Juno Dat Timber and Cjs Rockhard N Ready completed the field. Admiral Zoomwalt and Quarter Focus were both scratched.

Only 12 race dates and three more weekends of activity remain in the 2017 American Quarter Horse Season at Remington Park. Racing resumes Thursday thru Sunday, May 18-21. The first race on Thursday and Friday, May 18 & 19 is at 6pm. The action on Saturday, May 20 starts earlier than normal at 4pm with the special simulcast of the Preakness Stakes from Pimlico in Baltimore featured at 5:45pm. Sunday, May 21 is Fiesta at Remington Park with the first race at 1:30pm.

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Tracked by over 124,000 fans on Facebook and 8,800 Twitter followers, Remington Park is the home of the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Heritage Place Futurity on June 3. Remington Park has provided over $167 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Open daily at 10:30am with free parking and admission, Oklahoma City’s only Racetrack & Casino is located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. For more information, reservations and group bookings please call 405-424-1000, 866-456-9880 or visit remingtonpark.com.