Lynnder 16 has been putting on world-class performances since she began racing in 2018.

© Coady Photography

By Andrea Caudill

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–OCTOBER 22, 2024–The $115,000-est. Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) will offer a gate of great mares to watch compete, but it is also expected to be the swan song for Grade 1 winner Lynnder 16, who is preparing to retire from the racetrack after a remarkable career.

The mare's record is practically unheard of today for a horse of her caliber, as this race will mark her 44th career start.

She races for Tom Maher and Richard L. Tobin, who bought her as a weanling from breeders Jim and Marilyn Helzer. Lynnder 16's PPs stretch back to April 2018, when she pranced onto Remington Park's surface and expeditiously captured the first of her 23 career wins to date.

The daughter of Apollitical Jess' second career start was her first graded stakes win – the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity (RG2) – and she represented herself in Apocalyptical Jess' All American Futurity (G1).

Lynnder 16 has continued to be a force in the industry for six years while racking up 14 stakes wins, including the 2020 Distaff Challenge Championship (G1) at Albuquerque. She has earned $908,388 in her career, of which $260,479 has been earned in the Challenge program.
This will be her fourth appearance at the Championships.

"It has not been a hard decision [to continue racing her]," said trainer Jason Olmstead. "We thought about retiring her a few years ago, but she does better in her routine, she likes her people better than being turned out, and she likes the routine at the track. We've not been running her for the money, per se, but because it's what she likes to do. She has never lost a step."

Expected to face her in the gates for the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship is a talented group of mares, including last year's Distaff Challenge winner Vytaliti ($206,181) and runner up Paint Your Lips P ($202,391), as well as the likes of Curls Joyful Wagon ($336,781) and Lynnder 16's own stablemate, Beep Beep Rev Rev ($200,469).

The blow of Lynnder 16's retirement should be softened somewhat for everyone at the Olmstead barn, as they're enjoying having her babies around.

Her first starter, Apolitical Seis, has already become a winner for owner Richard Tobin. The Tres Seis gelding has earned $32,706 while finishing on the board in more than half his starts to date. Lynnder 16 has more foals coming, including a few embryos.

"That makes it easier to swallow, having her foals in the barn and more coming up," said Olmstead.

Their trainer notes that the son resembles his mother with a laid-back nature around the barn – in addition to his ability to find the winner's circle.

Fans will hopefully get to enjoy the talented Lynnder 16 one more time on Challenge Championship night, and have a family legacy to watch for in the future.

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