Jockey Cassandra Jeschke and the filly Rushn Spice orchestrated one of the biggest upsets of the 2026 Ajax Downs Quarter Horse season on September 16 when they lit up the tote board with a 38-to-1 victory. Rushn Spice had her nose in front at the finish of the 250-yard dash while her five rivals were virtually in a line beside her, the entire field separated by less than a horse length.

In a rarity, Rushn Spice, owned and trained by Chantelle Bourgeois, was such a long shot that no bettor had the Daily Double payoff of sixth race winner SNOW MOOSE, the favorite, onto Rushn Spice. Instead, the Daily Double was paid off on Snow Moose and race 7 runner-up Lil Phyler. It paid $30.60.

Rushn Spice, who had only one previous career win, which came in May 2025, paid $79.60 for a $2 win bet, a whopping $60.40 to place, and $8.80 to show.
"It was her distance today," said Jeschke about the feisty filly. "She likes the shorter distances like 220 and 250 yards. She always tries."

Snow Moose's victory in the featured sixth race was the first win of the season for the 2023 Horse of the Year. The Ontario-bred 6-year-old and his rider, J.B. Botello, edged CG Mega Spy for his 11th career win. CG Mega Spy, incidentally, was just half a length in front of the third-place finisher, Spy for the Senate, his sire.

Owner and trainer James Bogar and jockey Ismael Mosqueira won two races on the afternoon to continue their hot streak. Bogar has won five races in the last two racing dates, while Mosqueira has ridden seven winners from the last 17 races.

Racing continues at Ajax Downs on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, with a first race post time of 12:55 p.m. Coming up on Monday, October 12, is Pumpkin Day in support of the United Way. Visit www.ajaxdowns.com for more information.

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JJ Apollitical Snow SI 92, a Grade 3 finalist and son of all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess, has joined the StallioneSearch.com Member Stallion roster as he prepares to begin his breeding career in 2027.

The 4-year-old gray stallion, owned by J & J Stables LLC, will continue racing through the remainder of the 2026 season before entering stud next year at J & J Stables LLC near Keithville, Louisiana.

JJ Apollitical Snow will stand his introductory season for a fee of $1,000, with an additional incentive available to early breeders. The first 25 mares booked for the 2027 breeding season will receive a $250 discount.

A Louisiana-bred son of legendary sire Apollitical Jess, JJ Apollitical Snow is out of multiple stakes winner Snow Regard SI 96, by Chicks Regard.

JJ Apollitical Snow has compiled a record of three wins, four seconds and one third from 24 starts while earning $38,982 through September 10. He was named the East Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Colt in 2025 and was a finalist in the Grade 3 Firecracker Derby and G.C.F.A. Dutchman Stakes.

As a 2-year-old, JJ Apollitical Snow won twice and finished second three times from 10 starts, earning $24,740. He added another victory and a runner-up finish during his 3-year-old campaign, earning $14,142.

His sire, Apollitical Jess SI 107, needs little introduction. The World Champion and $1.39 million earner has established himself among the most influential sires in Quarter Horse racing history. Through September 2026, Apollitical Jess has sired 177 stakes winners, 14 champions and earners of more than $88.6 million.

His leading runners include two-time champion and All American Futurity (G1) winner KJ Desparado SI 118, with earnings of more than $3.47 million; World Champion Empressum SI 111, an earner of more than $2.7 million; three-time champion and All American Futurity (G1) winner Apocalyptical Jess SI 103, with earnings exceeding $2.25 million; and two-time champion Political Twist SI 105, winner of the Ruidoso Futurity (G1) and more than $1.66 million through his 3-year-old season.

Apollitical Jess has also firmly established himself as a sire of sires, with his sons increasingly making their mark at stud. His influence is led by Flying Cowboy 123, currently the No. 1 leading sire of money earners in 2026, while fellow sons KJ Mucho Macho Man and Chilitos have emerged among the industry's leading young sires. Champion Apollitical Blood, winner of the All American Derby (G1), has also developed into a successful sire and leading sire of champions.

Together, their success provides further evidence that Apollitical Jess is not only producing elite racehorses but also establishing a powerful and increasingly important sire line within the Quarter Horse industry.

JJ Apollitical Snow also brings a strong New Mexico stakes family to the breeding shed through his dam.

Snow Regard won four races and earned $241,205 while earning Superior Race Horse honors. She won the New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship (RG1) and Sunburst Stakes and finished second in the Lou Wooten Handicap (RG1), New Mexico State Fair Senorita Futurity (RG3) and Jimmy Drake Stakes.

Snow Regard was also named New Mexico Hi-Point Three-Year-Old Filly and New Mexico Hi-Point Aged Mare.

The daughter of Chicks Regard has produced eight ROM from 11 starters, including JJ Apollitical Snow. Her other winners include JJ Coronas Snow SI 99, a three-time winner, and JJ First Down Dash SI 81, by legendary First Down Dash.

JJ Apollitical Snow's second dam, Sha Hooy Hooy SI 103, is a Major Rime mare and a half-sister to stakes-placed Blazin Force SI 102, an earner of $91,687.

With the combination of Apollitical Jess on top and an accomplished stakes-winning female family underneath, JJ Apollitical Snow offers Louisiana breeders a young stallion prospect with both racing credentials and proven bloodlines.

JJ Apollitical Snow will stand the 2027 breeding season at J & J Stables LLC, 14021 Johns Gin Road, Keithville, Louisiana 71047. His fee is $1,000, with the first 25 mares booked receiving a $250 discount.

For additional information or breeding inquiries, contact farm manager, Lexus Delbosque, at (469) 716-4101 or email jjstablesllc@gmail.com.

CLICK HERE to visit JJ Apollitical Snow's StallioneSearch.com Member Stallion page.

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BP Jet Liner pressed the pace before surging to a head victory in Tuesday’s $30,000 John Deere Horseshoe Juvenile Challenge at Horseshoe Indianapolis.

Ridden by Luis Eduardo Luna Diaz, BP Jet Liner completed the 350 yards in :18.012, earning an 86 speed index over a fast track. The Samuel Mendoza trainee collected the $16,500 winner’s share for owner Jose Brizuela Jr.

The victory also earned BP Jet Liner a berth in the $150,000-est. John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship (G2), which will be contested at The Downs at Albuquerque during AQHA Challenge Championship Night on October 15.

BP Jet Liner has won two of six career starts and earned $30,925. He was also a finalist in the Grade 3 Laico Bird Stakes.

Bred in Oklahoma by Bill Price, BP Jet Liner is a 2-year-old son of Flying Cowboy 123 from the Tempting Dash mare Hf Stormi Daniels. Brizuela purchased the brown colt for $75,000 in the 2025 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Fatimaa finished a head behind the winner and earned $6,000 for runner-up honors. The One Fabulous Eagle filly, ridden by Giovani Vazquez-Gomez for trainer Jessica A. Vazquez, has finished second in each of her three career starts.

Kidd Ranch bred Fatimaa, who is owned by LG Racing LLC. She is out of Kr Calamity, a daughter of Foose.

Apollitical Fast finished a neck behind Fatimaa in third and earned $3,000. The Anthony F. Cunningham-trained filly, ridden by Isidro Banuelos, has won twice and placed third three times in six starts, earning $21,345. She also won the Mari Hulman George Overnight Stakes.

Owner-breeder Brian L. Gunder bred Apollitical Fast, a daughter of Apollitical Blood from the Heza Fast Dash mare McM Sheza Fast Cutie. Apollitical Fast held third by a neck over Cyber Affair.

Cyber Affair, Temptstepper Z, Texas Swagger 123, Iriss Rose, Wheelz Up Sm, Thunder Bay, and Kissmeoverpolitics completed the order of finish.

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The starting gates are officially swinging open for the start of the 2026 American Quarter Horse Association racing season at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. The 28-day meet runs through Nov. 17, bringing higher purses and some of the region’s fastest Paint, Appaloosa and Quarter Horses back to the Claremore track.

The 2026 Will Rogers Downs fall racing schedule features average daily purses around $150,000. Racing will be conducted regularly on Mondays and Tuesdays, with Sunday racing beginning on Sept. 27, creating a three-day race week. First post will be at 12:00 p.m.

"The return of Quarter Horse racing this fall at Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs figures to be well received,” said John Lies, director of racing for Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs. “Last fall we experienced an increase in field size, and the strength of our stall applications and trainer feedback indicate we may be able to take another step forward in delivering more competitive, high-quality racing our fans have come to expect in Claremore.”

Three sets of trials for American Quarter Horse Association championship races will be offered in the first week, including Distaff Challenge Trials, the Juvenile Challenge Trials and the Derby Challenge Trials.

Overnight purses have been increased across the board for all races, including the Miss Ellen Stakes and the Oklahoma Quarter Horse Racing Association (OQHRA) Fall Classic, which both move from $24,000 to $30,000 for 2026.

Tuesday, Nov. 17, will close out the season with a final schedule that includes the $15,000-Added Speedhorse Paint and Appaloosa Futurity Championship Final, the $25,000-Added Mystery Derby Final, and the Black Gold Futurity Championship and the Black Gold Fillies Futurity Championship, both with a $123,750-Added purse.

For more information on the 2026 Quarter Horse racing season at Will Rogers Downs, visit https://www.cherokeecasino.com/games/horse-racing.

With more than 250 games, live music, heart-pounding horse racing action and impeccable service, Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is your source of entertainment. The casino and track are both located three miles east of Claremore on Hwy. 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.

About Cherokee Nation Entertainment

Cherokee Nation Entertainment is the gaming and hospitality company of the Cherokee Nation. What began as a small bingo hall in Roland, Oklahoma, has evolved into one of the region’s largest and most dynamic gaming and hospitality enterprises, generating more than $1 billion in annual revenue, employing over 4,000 people, and welcoming more than 10 million visitors each year. With more than three decades of experience delivering world-class entertainment, CNE owns and operates the renowned Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Tulsa and nine Cherokee Casinos throughout Oklahoma, including a racino, three resort hotels, a championship golf course, and a variety of dining, retail and entertainment venues. CNE also operates Gold Strike Casino & Resort in Tunica, Mississippi, one of the most recognized gaming destinations in the Mid-South. As a key economic engine for the Cherokee Nation, CNE is deeply committed to improving the lives of Cherokee citizens and strengthening communities through job creation, cultural preservation and reinvestment in vital services. For more information, visit HardRockCasinoTulsa.com, CherokeeCasino.com and GoldStrike.com.

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