A trifecta of Wyoming-bred quarter horse stakes races will be contested this Saturday as part of closing weekend at Sweetwater Downs. Finals for the $183,350 WABRA-Wyoming Bred QH Futurity (race 9), the $118,350 WABRA-Wyoming Bred QH Derby (race 8) and the $74,800 WABRA – Wyoming Bred QH Maturity (race 7) will be featured on Saturday. Sunday the curtain will come down on the 2025 season with the $26,600 Hasta La Vista Stakes running as the last race of the meeting at 1-1/16 miles, a unique three-turn race, on the Rock Springs oval.
J.P. Sample’s Flying Rocco (3-1) is the deserving favorite in the WABRA-Futurity, coming off an impressive win in his trial race on September 13, recording the fastest time of 0:15.398.6 and a 99-speed index. The sorrel gelding has won two of his four lifetime starts and will have the riding services of red-hot Jose Olivo, who has a chance to capture the riding title at the 18-day meeting. Flying Rocco breaks from the outside post in the field of 10 for Sweetwater Downs top conditioner Kylie Valenzuela.
The top challenger to the favorite could be Broken Bones Cattle Company’s Sixs Cb Blakely (6-1). The brown filly by Charlie Brown just missed by a nose to favored Flying Rocco in the trials (0:15.415.1), recording a 98-speed index and she has two second place finishes over the local surface. Luis Peralta returns in the irons for trainer Jesse Villegas and will break from post 3. Eddie Jensen’s My Paint Me Jess (9-2) continues to hold his good form after winning the Wyoming Downs Futurity on July 27th. A winner of three straight, the bay gelding was sent off a 1-9 favorite in his trial and easily captured his trial by 1-1/2 lengths while completing the 300 yards in 0:15.452.7, a 97-speed index. Trainer Jess Matt is second in the local trainer standings, just one win behind Kylie Valenzuela entering closing weekend. Jacob Cardenas returns in the saddle and will break from post 6.
In the 350-yard WABRA-Derby, Eddie Jansen’s Papas Tribe (3-1) will be the solid choice. The 3-year-old gelding by Pappasito has been on the board in 6 of 8 starts this season and recorded the fastest time in the September 14th trials of 0:17.335.2, a 99-speed index. The Jess Matt trainee is reunited with rider Jacob Cardenas and will break from post 2 in the field of 10. Top challengers include Chris Nebeker’s Outlaw Jess (7-2) and Stephanie and Jim Ferguson’s SJ Illusive N Shady (5-1).
The best betting race on the card may turn out to be the Final in the WABRA Maturity. The top five finishers, which were separated by 1-length in a superb trial race from September 14, return in a very evenly matched final. Gerald Kaul’s Yo Morning Delite (7-2) is the tepid favorite. The 5-year-old sorrel gelding has recorded 19 wins in 31 outings and recorded a 101-speed index in his trial. The Jess Matt trainee has earned $229,785 with 7 wins in 12 starts at the distance. Yo Morning Delite breaks from the rail in the field of 10.
A Sweetwater Downs closing day tradition continues Sunday with the annual running of the $26,600 Hasta La Vista Stakes. The 1-1/16 mile event is the longest race held annually at the track and this year will feature a full field of 8. Leon Scott’s Honos Man (2-1) looms as the favorite coming off a strong performance at 1 mile in his last effort on September 12th. The 9-year-old gelding is a consistent performer recording 9 wins, 12 seconds and 8 thirds in 51 lifetime starts with earnings of $239,035. Top thoroughbred rider Scott Bethke rides for trainer Emma Gurnick. Top challengers to the favorite include 7C Racing Company’s Winsitwell (4-1, post 1) and Grumpy Old Boys, LLC.’s Map This Out (7-2, post 2).
Racing will conclude at Sweetwater Downs this weekend with live cards on Saturday and Sunday (September 27th and 28th). Both days feature 10-race programs split evenly each day between thoroughbreds and quarter horses. Post time is 1 pm mt. Sweetwater Downs is located within the Sweetwater Events Complex at 3320 Yellowstone Road in Rock Springs.
For those who can’t attend the live races in person, Wyoming Horse Racing offers betting at any of the ten Horse Palace locations, including sites in Casper, Cheyenne, Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Rock Springs and Sheridan.
Wyoming Horse Racing, LLC is a proud sponsor of Sweetwater Downs races and operates eleven Horse Palace locations throughout the state. The company led the effort to legalize Historical Horse Racing (HHR) terminals in Wyoming, which has significantly grown Wyoming’s horse industry and makes meaningful contributions to the state’s tax revenues. The company is committed to responsible stewardship and investment in the hospitality and agri-business sectors that constitute the horse racing industry in Wyoming.
The racing schedule, race day live streams and other live racing information can be found at: horsepalace.win/live-racing.
