Distaff Championship Berth & Wyoming-Bred Futurity Trials Headline Sunday At Sweetwater Downs

The Sunday afternoon card at Sweetwater Downs will feature 11 races, with the first post at 1:00 p.m. The afternoon will bring plenty of excitement, highlighted by the $45,018 Cox Ranch Fillies and Mares Regional Distaff Challenge and five trial heats featuring 47 Wyoming-bred juveniles racing the clock for a chance to return to one of the meet’s biggest events.

The $45,018 Cox Ranch Fillies and Mares Regional Distaff Challenge is scheduled as the sixth race on the card, with a field of 10 fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, set to run 400 yards at approximately 3:20 p.m. Along with the purse and stakes title on the line, the winner will earn an opportunity to advance to the Challenge Championships on October 17 at Albuquerque Downs.

Rr Sweet Memories is the 3-1 morning-line favorite, leading the field. The 3-year-old filly enters the race off a recent trial victory, drawing away to win by a half-length. She has compiled a consistent record with two wins and five second-place finishes, earning $84,182 for owner Buckway Ranch, LLC, which purchased her for $100,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The daughter of Jess Good Candy is out of the Coronado Cartel mare Conquering Marie and was bred in Oklahoma by Reliance Ranches, LLC. Joe M. Davis prepares the filly to race from post five, with jockey Juan F. Garcia, Jr., aboard.

Jolie Laide enters as the 7-2 second choice and will look to turn things around after a pair of starts in Wyoming. The accomplished 4-year-old mare has faced stakes company and will make her third start in the state as she looks to find her way back to the winner’s circle.

With six career victories and earnings of $190,362, Jolie Laide brings the highest level of experience to owner and breeder Doug Ruby.

The daughter of Big Lew is out of the Jesse James Jr. mare Two Wines and was bred in Oklahoma. James Kevin Goodnight trains the mare, who will break from post eight with Edwin G. Escobedo in the saddle.

Adding even more excitement to Sunday’s program will be five trial heats featuring 47 Wyoming-bred 2-year-olds, with every fraction of a second mattering as the juveniles race the clock for their chance to return for one of Sweetwater Downs’ biggest events.

With a championship opportunity on the line in the Cox Ranch Fillies and Mares Regional Distaff Challenge and the next generation of Wyoming-bred talent chasing qualifying times across five trial heats, Sunday afternoon at Sweetwater Downs will deliver stakes action and plenty on the line from start to finish.

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