O Donovan Rossa, ridden by Roman Cruz, wins the $35,156 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Stakes [G2] for the second year in a row at Remington Park on Sunday.

© Louanne Wainscott/ StallioneSearch

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–APRIL 6, 2025–Distance powerhouse O Donovan Rossa, pulled off his first win of the season as 2-1 favorite in the $35,156 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Stakes [G2] for the second year in a row at Remington Park on Sunday.

Jockey Roman Cruz got the call aboard O Donovan Rossa for his gate-to-wire victory. The seven-year-old gelding clocked a 99 speed index in 45.069 seconds in a duel for the win with Invincible Streak and Wynnchester who both rallied for the wire. Favored to win, the 870-yard distance race paid $4.40 on the wager.

Ramirez said, “I knew he would get a little speed, but I wanted to conserve his energy. I thought the one horse (Wynnchester) would give me a little trouble because he was pushing hard. I didn’t want to get behind the one horse, so I tried to stay at least a half-length or a head in front of him. As soon as O Donovan Rossa felt pressure from the back, he just wanted to go, so he just let it go and did his job.”

In 2025, O Donovan Rossa competed in this particular distance race at Remington Park for the third consecutive year. He placed second in 2023 to Big Dynasty, won the race in 2024, and again won it tonight.

The winning connections of O Donovan Rossa accept the trophy after winning the $36,35,516 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Stakes on Sunday at Remington Park.
© Louanne Wainescott/StallioneSearch

The $18,281 payday boosted his earnings to $366,964 for breeder-owner Kelly Yother Equine, LLC. The victory improved his record to 13-7-6 from 42 starts.

His owner Lloyd Yother said, “The old man’s still got it. He’s kind of like me, a little long in the tooth but he’s still got it. He’s very impressive. He loves this track and he ran a big race.”

The Dee Keener trained gelding has won eight of his 13 victories in stakes competition, including the Pauls Valley Stakes [G2] (twice), SLM Big Daddy Stakes [G3], Will Rogers Distance Challenge Championship, Walter Merrick Stakes, Devil His Due Stakes.

Invincible Streak, piloted by Eugenio Navarrette Jr, rallied down the rail, placing second. Wynnchester, with Ricky Ramirez in the irons, followed in a neck behind for third.

Trainer Stacey Capps saddled runner-up Invincible Streak for owner Paula Marchant. The four-time winning son of Painted Dash has earned $80,550 from 22 starts.

Paul Newmaster bred Invincible Streak in Kansas. The five-year-old gelding is out of the Ten Streaks mare, Streaking Senorita.

Third-place finisher Wynnchester was bred in Texas by Bobby D Cox. Trainer Mike Joiner conditions the four-year-old gelding for owner Lucky Ladies.

Wynnchester has two wins from 12 starts with $29,338 in the bank. The son of leading sire Favorite Cartel was a $90,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate. He is out of the FDD Dynasty mare Nellie Delaney.

Rock Ya Later, ridden by Ali Rivera, placed fourth and Markus Aurelius, with Stormy Smith in the saddle, completed the order of finish in fifth.

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