Handin Out Candy (#3) holds off West Tx Rain (#5) to win the $60,000 Grade 2 Q-Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge at The Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 20, 2025—Handin Out Candy dug in gamely through the final yards to prevail in the $60,000 Q Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge (G2) at Downs at Albuquerque on Saturday, turning back the late surge of West Tx Rain by a neck.

The Grade 2 event, run at 870 yards for AQHA Challenge-enrolled 3-year-olds and older, was contested over a fast track under clear skies with a crosswind of six miles per hour.

The 6-year-old gelding completed the distance in 45.367, a 91 speed index, securing a berth in the Grade 1 $115,000-estimated Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship on October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Handin Out Candy's victory also secured him a berth in the Grade 1 $115,000-estimated Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship on October 18 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

The winning connections of Handin Out Candy accept the -Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge stakes trophy at The Downs. © Coady Media

Bred in Alabama by Paris Wixon, Handin Out Candy is a son of champion Jess Good Candy out of the Dash Ta Fame mare Ole Auntie Em. He is owned by Emilio Perez and trained by Paul Sedillo.

Omar Iturralde had the riding call, guiding the sorrel gelding four-wide into the stretch, where he was fully extended to secure the victory.

The win was worth $26,000, and the gelding had previously been a $30,000 RNA at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. He has banked $181,883 off a (34) 7-9-3 record.

Runner-up West Tx Rain, a 4-year-old gray gelding by Stellar Rain (TB) out of Cartier N Capris by Attila’s Storm (TB), closed strongly from off the pace, rallying five-wide under jockey Christian Cardenas to just miss at the wire.

Gene Garcia bred him in New Mexico, and he races for Garcia and Kathy L. Grine.

Garcia, who also conditions the gelding. His late charge was good enough for $11,500 to push his earnings to $46,073.

Multiple graded stakes winner Volcoms Favorite, the post-time favorite, settled for third with a mild rally in the final yards. The 6-year-old bay gelding is by Jess Good Candy out of Volcoms Delight by Volcom, bred in Oklahoma by George P. Mitchell II.

He is owned by Nove Racing LLC, trained by James Gonzales III, and ridden by Christian Ramos. Reserved early, he advanced three- to four-wide in the stretch but finished 2¼ lengths behind the runner-up to collect $5,750.

He won the Lip Chip LLC AQHA Distance Challenge Championship Stakes (G1) in Albuquerque last year and has earned $215,193.

Pari-mutuel returns were $4.60 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.10 to show on Handin Out Candy; $7.80 to place and $2.10 to show on West Tx Rain; and $2.10 to show on Volcoms Favorite.

The also-rans from the $60,000 Q Racing Video New Mexico Distance Challenge (G2) at Downs at Albuquerque, in order of finish behind the top three included 4th – Lewie Gotta Go, and 5th – Ocean Voyage.

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