Mystic Paint, under jockey Ramiro Gracia, won the $60,962 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge on Sunday at Will Rogers Downs.

© Coady Photography

CLAREMORE, OK–SEPTEMBER 29, 2024–Fastest qualifier Mystic Paint raced to a one-length victory in the $60,962 Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge on Sunday at Will Rogers Downs.

Jockey Ramiro Garcia rode Mystic Paint to a convincing win over the 400 yards in 19.774 seconds, a 98-speed index into a 10 mph crosswind. It was the fifth win in 15 career starts for the brown colt.

Leading trainer Jason Olmstead conditions the son of leading sire Pyc Paint Your Wagon for owner William F. Harned. Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC bred Mystic Paint in Oklahoma from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess So Sixy.

The winning connections of Mystic Paint accept the Adequan Will Rogers Derby Challenge stakes trophy at Will Rogers Downs. © Coady Photography

The $28,043 winner's purse boosted Mystic Paint's earnings to $235,058. He was second in the Grade 1 Ruidoso QH Derby in June and finished third in the OQHRA Mystery Futurity(G2) at Will Rogers Downs last fall.

Today's victory also earned Mystic Paint a starting spot in the $165,000-est Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G3), which will be contested at The Downs at Albuquerque during the Bank of American Challenge Championship Night on October 26.

Runner-up Preyin And Dashin earned $12,192 for her second-place effort. Trainer John Stinebaugh tapped jockey Ali Rivera to ride the daughter of multiple stake sire Ivory James for owner Terri Hurlbert. Dr. Steve Hurlbert bred the brown filly in Texas from the Panther Mountain mare Prey.  

James G. Burgess' homebred Skyline King finished half-a-length back to earn $6,096 for third. Jesus Ruiz trains the Eye Am King gelding out of Skyline Dawn Too by Preachinatthebar (TB).  Roman Cruz had the riding call aboard the Oklahoma bred.

Sr Dark Storm, Jd Dance Monkey, Mr May, Elverna Bradshaw, Wynnchester, and Eyes Jess Fast completed the field. Midnight Politics was a late scratch at the gate.