Flying Nova 123, ridden by Rolando Raudales, wins the $17,500 Golden Driller Stakes on Saturday at Fair Meadows in Tulsa.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK–JUNE 14, 2025–Flying Nova 123 captured her first career stakes win in the $17,500 Golden Driller Stakes on Saturday at Fair Meadows in Tulsa.

With a sharp break from the gate under jockey Rolando Raudales and a commanding lead by the first call, the black filly powered home to a 3/4-length victory, stopping the timer at 17.663 seconds over a sloppy track and earning a 96 speed index.

The three-year-old filly is a daughter of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123. Bred and owned in Oklahoma by Rick and Connie Dickson, Flying Nova 123 is out of Sr Shegone, by Mighty B Valiant. Jesus Ruiz trains her.

With this victory, Flying Nova 123 has improved her record to five wins in 11 starts. The $10,446 winner's share raised her total earnings to $57,720. She previously distinguished herself as a finalist in the 2024 FL Lady Bug Stakes.

Veteran campaigner A Secret to Catch showed he still has gas in the tank, battling to second place behind Flying Nova 123. The five-year-old gelding, ridden by Jose Vega, was competitive throughout and closed well to secure the runner-up check worth $3,482.

The son of Hez Our Secret was bred in Oklahoma by Pine Ridge Farm LLC. He is out of Too Tiny to Quit, by Corona Cartel, and has compiled a respectable résumé that includes a 2023 victory in the Evangeline Downs Dash Stakes. Owned by J. Owens and trained by Jaime Gonzalez, A Secret To Catch was a $12,500 purchase at the 2021 Heritage Place Yearling Sale and now boasts career earnings of $45,630.

Rounding out the top three was The Durango Lights, who fought through traffic under jockey Aram Martinez to claim third by a neck. The son of The Marfa Lights was bred in Oklahoma by Gildardo Avila Torres and is out of Coronas Tea Sipper, by Wave Carver. Racing for his breeder and trained by Cosme Velasquez, the gray gelding now holds a record of 3-1-2 from 11 starts with earnings of $51,389.

Rational Cowgirl 337, Duanes Little Dee, and Eye Eye Dynasty completed the field. Favorite Nova was scratched.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.
 

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