Challenge

Home > Challenge>Dance The Dust Off Lasts In AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge

Dance The Dust Off Lasts In AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge
Dance The Dust Off, under jockey Nakia Ramirez, winning the $35,156 AQHA Distance Will Rogers Challenge Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs.

© Coady Photography
Dance The Dust Off Lasts In AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge

CLAREMORE, OK—OCTOBER 3, 2021—Dance The Dust Off, under jockey Nakia Ramirez, bumped at the start then lasted to defeated Seb Ember by half-a-length in the $35,156 AQHA Will Rogers Distance Challenge Sunday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs.

The New Mexico-bred son of Coronas Blackdiamond completed the 870 yards in :45.845 seconds, a 96 speed index into a 6 mph cross wind on a racing surface rated "good".

Owned-and-trained by Scott Warr, the graded stakes winner Dance The Dust Off has compiled a (16) 5-4-0 record and used today's Distance winner's purse valued at $19,687 to boost his lifetime mark to $55,230.

The winning connections of Bully Pulpit accept the Sequoyah Stakes trophy Friday afternoon at Will Rogers Downs. © Coady Photography
Sarah Donaldson Rioux bred the 5-year-old gelding from the thoroughbred mare Magic Yard by Ghazi.

Today's win also earns Dance The Dust Off a starting spot in the $100,000-est. Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Championship(G1) to be contested October 23rd during the Bank of America Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque.

Seb Ember finished second for owner Sam Brookover and trainer Charlton Hunt. Stormy Smith rode the 4-year-old Walk Thru Fire filly out of the thoroughbred mare Wisestar by Henny Hughes. Bred in Texas by Clarence Scharbauer III, Seb Ember is a graded stakes winner of over $66,000. He entered the race off a win in the Grade 3 Covered Bridges Stakes at Prairie Meadows on September 17th.

Third-place finisher Ms Ester is expected to make her third appearance in the Grade 1 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship off a win in her last start in the Canterbury Park Distance Challenge on July 6th. The 7-year-old daughter of Afrashad (TB) earned $4,570 for her effort today. Owner-trainer Jordan Baumann named Andrew Samaniego to ride the Oklahoma-bred mare out of Tres Down The Cash by Tres Seis. She has earned $250,763 with 11 career wins.

Sw Artemisia was fourth. Higher Flyn Eagle and Viva Le Don were both scratched.

* * * * * * * *

Cherokee Casino Will Rogers Downs is located 3 miles east of Claremore on Highway 20. For more information, visit www.cherokeecasino.com and click on the Will Rogers Downs tab, or call (918) 283-8800.

For additional information CLICK HERE to visit the track's website.