Fire Bolt B, ridden by Nestor Duran, captured the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge on Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

HOUSTON, TX–May 9, 2026—Fire Bolt B delivered a determined performance Saturday night at Sam Houston Race Park, outdueling favored GJR Rooster to capture the Grade 3 $43,478 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge at 870 yards.

Ridden by Nestor Duran, the four-year-old gelding stopped the clock in :45.554 over a muddy sealed track while earning a 99 speed index. The son of Bolt of Fire was bred by Bielau Oaks and is owned by Tony Sedillo and RC Racing LLC with Richard Sedillo handling training duties.

Fire Bolt B entered the final off a gate-to-wire victory in the April 24 trials, where he qualified second fastest. Saturday’s score marked the first stakes victory of his career.

Bred in Texas, the gray gelding is out of the FDD Dynasty mare She A Elektra B and was purchased for $11,000 at the TQHA Yearling Sale. Following the win, Fire Bolt B improved his career record to six wins from 15 starts with earnings climbing to $85,173.

The winning connections of Fire Bolt B accept the $43,478 Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge trophy at Sam Houston on Saturday. © Jack Coady Photography

Prior to the victory, he was a finalist in last year’s Lone Star Park Distance Championship Stakes.

Equibase chart notes described the effort as “dueled inside, long drive, proved best.”

Fastest qualifier GJR Rooster finished second under Gilberto Linares for owners Richard Young, Joe David Yates, and Zack Stinebaugh, who also trains the gelding.

The five-year-old gelding is a $15,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate bred by Gerald Rich. Sired by This Is An Eagle and out of the Thoroughbred mare Granny Grump by A Little Illegal, GJR Rooster has established himself as one of the region’s top distance runners.

The veteran has hit the board in 17 of 21 career starts with a record of 5-8-4 and earnings of $177,292. An eight-time stakes finalist, GJR Rooster owns victories in the Benny Pennington Memorial (G2) and the Lone Star Park Distance Championship and entered the race off a third-place effort in the King Rick Rack Stakes (G2).

Third-place finisher DM Special Cat closed late under Claudio Ponce Aguilar for breeder-owner Donna Mushinski and trainer Kie Mushinski.

The four-year-old gelding is by Stray Cat and out of the stakes-placed Visionarian mare Sophies Special. With Saturday’s effort, DM Special Cat now owns a record of 16-2-5-3 with earnings of $47,269. The Grade 3 final marked the gelding’s first career stakes appearance.

Music Dash finished fourth and was followed by KVN Valiant Corona, Big Lew Love, Hezamonzter, and Daybreak N Dash.

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