Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge (G3)
Thursday, July 25, 2025
Trial Date: Thursday, July 10, 2025
440 Yards
Enrolled 3yo & up fillies & mares
2024 Winner:
AJ Fast Corona
(Apollitical Jess – Fast Prize Corona by Corona Cartel)
Jockey: Luis A. Valenzuela
Trainer: Jason Olmstead
Owner: Paulsen, Kim and Maher, Tom
AJ FAST CORONA - Canterbury Park Distaff Challenge (Grade lll) - 07-25-24 - Photo courtesy of Coady Photography
History of the Canterbury Distaff Challenge
2016 marked the first year that Canterbury Park hosted a regional qualifier for the Merial Challenge Championship. Prior to that year, Canterbury hosted a Bonus Challenge race with similar conditions, but no berth to the final Challenge event:
| Year | Winner | Purse | Owner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | AJ Fast Corona | $35,904 | Paulsen, Kim and Maher, Tom | Luis A. Valenzuela | Jason Olmstead | :20.122 |
| 2023 | Jess Special Folly V | $37,026 | MOK 4 Racing | Fernando Fonseca-Soto | Durk Peery | :19.672 |
| 2022 | Lynnder 16 | $39,270 | Tom Maher and Richard Tobin | Edwin Escobedo | Jason Olmstead | :19.560 |
| 2021 | Lynnder 16 | $38,615 | Tom Maher and Richard Tobin | Edwin Escobedo | Jason Olmstead | :19.700 |
| 2020 | Lynnder 16 | $34,315 | Tom Maher and Richard Tobin | Berkley Packer | Jason Olmstead | :19.753 |
| 2019 | Curls Happy Wagon | $34,221 | Michael Pohl and Martin Stacy | Jorge Torres | Stacy Charette-Hill | :19.775 |
| 2018 | Corona Springs | $34,740 | Thomas Scheckel | Cristian Esqueda | Jason Olmstead | :19.766 |
| 2017 | Jr Rock Star | $33,750 | Don Webb | Brayan Velazquez | Jason Olmstead | :20.246 |
Canterbury Park Challenge Stakes Record: Lynnder 16, 2021, :19.560 (400 yards) 7/14/22, also a track record at Canterbury Park for 400 yards*
History of the Canterbury Distaff Bonus Challenge
| Year | Winner | Purse | Owner | Jockey | Trainer | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2015 | Send Me This Wagon | $28,825 | Randy Hill & Stacy Charette-Hill | Jorge Torres | Stacy Charette-Hill | :20.216 |
| 2014 | Sooner Country Babe | $26,759 | David Rath | Jorge Torres | Stacy Charette-Hill | :19.804 |
| 2013 | Glory Rider | $30,900 | You and Me Partners | Agustin Silva | Kasey Willis | :20.327 |
| 2012 | Huckleberry Mojito | $27,750 | LMR 2011 | Nik Goodwin | Ed Ross Hardy | :20.173 |