The highly accomplished distance champion The Grand Legend will face five rivals in the $30,000 Q-Racing Video Sam Houston Distance Challenge on Saturday at Sam Houston Race Park. Bred in Texas by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm LLC, the 9-year-old son of FDD Going Grand will make his 41st career start with 12 wins running the hook, including six 870-yard stakes victories. Regular pilot Noe Villatoro will guide The Grand Legend from post position four for owner James C. Whitener LLC.

From 2018–2022, the sorrel gelding ran shorter distances and even competed in the 2022 Sam Houston Classic (G2) at 440 yards. His trainer Adan Guzman began thinking about trying the stretch out, and his hunch was confirmed at Sam Houston Race Park on May 5, 2023, when he won his 870-yard debut by a margin of nine lengths.

“He always finished strong at the end of his 350- and 400-yard races,” explained Guzman. “We felt it was worth a try! Noe gets along very well with him; the horse is pretty relaxed everywhere he goes.”

The Q-Video Distance Challenge will run as race seven, with an approximate post time of 3:40 p.m. The winner will earn a berth in the Q-Racing Video Challenge Championship (G1) at The Downs of Albuquerque in October.

AQHA News and information is a service of the American Quarter Horse Association. For more news and information, follow @AQHA Racing on X and on Instagram, "like" Q-Racing on Facebook, and visit www.aqha.com/racing.