O Donovan Rossa enters Friday's $25,000 Walter Merricks Stakes at Fair Meadows as the 5-2 morning-line favorite.

© Dustin Orona Photography

By LouanneWainscott, StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK–JULY 14, 2026–Fair Meadows closes out its summer meet on Friday evening with a competitive 12-race program highlighted by the $25,000 Walter Merricks Stakes. A field of seven seasoned 3-year-olds and older will line up to run 870 yards in the featured event, scheduled for approximately 8:14 p.m.

O Donovan Rossa, the 5-2 morning-line favorite, leads the field. The eight-year-old gelding has remained competitive in his 2026 campaign, with one win and one runner-up finish in four starts. A proven distance specialist, he has 14 career victories and has earned $426,464 for owner Kelly Yother Equine.

The Oklahoma-bred son of Apollitical Jess is out of the Country Chicks Man mare Shanachee and was bred by J. Garvan Kelly. Trained by Dee Keener, O Donovan Rossa will break from the outside post seven, with Roman Cruz aboard.

Second choice on the morning line at 3-1 is Mister Lights Out, who enters in sharp form after finishing second on the Fair Meadows surface on June 26. The four-year-old gelding has enjoyed a breakout season since stretching out to 870 yards, breaking his maiden at Sunland Park in January and returning to capture an allowance for non-winners of two at Remington Park. He has now won three of his 11 career starts, earning $65,494 for owners Randy and Sandy Coleman and Gary Willingham.

The Texas-bred son of The Marfa Lights is out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Copauino and was bred by Coleman, Willingham, and Roark. Clinton Crawford conditions the gelding, who will break from post six, with Thoroughbred rider Curtis Kimes making the trip around the turn.

With a talented group of seasoned distance runners assembled, the Walter Merricks Stakes promises an exciting conclusion to Fair Meadows' summer meet, as seven contenders battle for the featured stakes victory on Friday night.

 

The races at Fair Meadows can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.