Remington: Stolis Winner overtakes favorite in Oklahoma Challenge Championship

Stolis Winner punched his ticket to the Grade 1, $350,000 Challenge Championship at Los Alamitos in October on Sunday, when he closed for a half-length win over 3-5 favorite Streakin Down in the Grade 2, $100,000 Oklahoma Challenge Championship at Remington Park.

It was the first win since last July for Stolis Winner, a World Champion at 2 who in December became Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading earner after finishing third in the Grade 1 Challenge Championship at Fair Grounds.

“I’m excited for the horse to be able to win at this level as a 5-year-old,” said Heath Taylor, who trains Stolis Winner for Jerry Windham.

Stolis Winner ($7) on Sunday picked up steam through the later stages of the 440-yard race, first overtaking Mr. Truly Uno then keeping Streakin Down at bay. Stolis Winner covered the distance on a fast track in 21.69 seconds.

“He can really get that quarter of a mile,” said Jacky Martin, who rode Stolis Winner.

“Today in the post parade he was acting like a 2-year-old,” Martin said. “He was wanting to buck and play, and I felt good when he was acting like that.”

Stolis Winner came into the Oklahoma Challenge Championship off a second-place finish in a trial race, beaten a head by Streakin Down. Both horses broke the track record in the April 24 race, with Streakin Down covering the 440 yards in 21 seconds.

Stolis Winner on Sunday earned $49,312, to push his career bankroll to $2,221, 911. He has now won 13 of 26 starts.

* The Louisiana Cartel ($3.60), who defeated Stolis Winner in the Grade 2 Texas Challenge Championship at Sam Houston in March, came back and won his third straight race Saturday in the $50,000 Sam Houston Classic at Sam Houston Race Park. Jockey David Alvarez was aboard the horse, who won by 1 3/4 lengths, for trainer Jorge Haddad.