Distance Champion Handin Out Candy pulls away to easy victory in the Grade 2 Q-Racing Video Remington Park Distance Challenge on Saturday, March 28, 2026.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By Richard Linihan

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK–MARCH 28, 2026– The 2025 American Quarter Horse Association Distance Champion, Handin Out Candy, showed why he won that award, pulling away from a stellar field of turn horses Saturday night to win the Grade 2, $40,018 Q-Racing Video Remington Park Distance Challenge.

It was the sixth win in a row for the 7-year-old Alabama-bred gelded son of Jess Good Candy, from the Dash Ta Fame mare Ole Auntie Em. It was Handin Out Candy’s eighth trip to the winner’s circle in his last nine attempts with all of the triumphs at 870 yards. The only loss in that skein of victories was when his connections turned him back to 400 yards in April 2025 when he ran fifth at Sunray Park.

Jockey Omar Iturralde rode Handin Out Candy to seven of those eight wins.

“He is an incredible horse,” said Iturralde. “When I ask him to run, he just takes off. He loves the distance… and he didn’t break all that good tonight.”

When Iturralde did ask Handin Out Candy to run in the stretch, the tremendous winner pulled away for a 2-3/4 lengths victory as the 6-5 wagering favorite. The three-time distance champion at Remington Park, O Donovan Rossa, was destined for a tough time when he drew the outside, post-position eight. The best he could do was get up for fifth at 7-2 odds.

Handin Out Candy covered the 870 yards on Saturday night in a time of :45.804 over a fast track, earning a speed index of 88. He earned $19,209 from the stakes purse for owner Emilio Perez of Arlington, Texas.

“I am so impressed with the trainer (Paul Sedillo) and jockey and the horse for sure,” said Perez. “This was extra special because it was the first time for all my kids to be here and get their picture taken (in the winner’s circle with Handin Out Candy).”

Chickn Hock (9-2) pressed the winner into the stretch, but couldn’t keep up, and had to settle for second, three-quarters of a length better than third-place finisher Wynnchester (12-1). The rest of the order of finish was Invincible Streak (52-1) checking in fourth, O Donovan Rossa (7-2) fifth, FL Rizzo (5-2) sixth, Red Jet (33-1) seventh and Hezamonzter (28-1) eighth.

Chickn Hock finished second under jockey Francisco Calderon for trainer Clinton Crawford and owners Christopher Lykins, Melody Lykins and Renee Wilson. Bred by D. Bowen, S. Taylor and J. Smith Farms, the gelding is by champion Kiss My Hocks and out of champion PJ Chick In Black ($652,081), by Desirio.

Chickn Hock is a half-brother to Grade 1 stakes winner Hes Limitless ($638,061). He now holds a record of 14 starts, 2 wins, 5 seconds and 1 third with earnings of $48,937.

Wynnchester finished third with Mario Delgado aboard for trainer Justin Joiner and owner Lucky Ladies. Bred by Bobby Cox, the gelding is by leading sire Favorite Cartel and out of the FDD Dynasty mare Nellie Delaney, a Grade 1 stakes winner and full sister to graded stakes winner Jacky Martin ($123,795).

Wynnchester now has a record of 18 starts, 3 wins, 2 seconds and 4 thirds with earnings of $67,421. He is a stakes winner of the Will Rogers Downs Distance Challenge(G3).

This was the first win for all the connections of Handin Out Candy in this stakes series. He broke a string of two wins in a row for O Donovan Rossa in this stakes.

Handin Out Candy was bred by Paris Wixon. He improved his career record to 38 starts, 11 wins, nine seconds and three thirds. His lifetime bankroll ballooned to $324,790. He was a $20,000 purchase at the Heritage Place September Yearling Sale in 2020. Handin Out Candy won 870-yard races last year at Sunland Park in El Paso, Texas; Retama Park, near San Antonio; the Downs at Albuquerque, and Zia Park in New Mexico.

Remington Park racing continues Sunday with the first post at 4pm-Central.

About Remington Park
Remington Park has provided more than $408 Million to the State of Oklahoma general education fund since the opening of the casino in 2005. Located at the junction of Interstates 35 & 44, in the heart of the Oklahoma City Adventure District. The 2026 Remington Park Futurity, the richest race of the season for Oklahoma-breds, takes place on Saturday, April 18. Remington Park presents year-round simulcast racing and casino gaming. Guests must be 18 or older to wager on horse racing or to enter the casino gaming floor. Visit remingtonpark.com for more information.

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