Dance The Dust Off, ridden by Nakia Teeter, wins the $22,000 Bear River Stakes on Saturday at Wyoming Downs.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 27, 2025–Veteran gelding Dance The Dust Off surged late to post a mild upset in the $22,000 Bear River Stakes on Saturday at Wyoming Downs,

Dance The Dust Off covered the 870 yards in 45.418 seconds with a 97 speed index. Ridden by Nakia Teeter and trained by Tori Hadley, the 9-year-old son of Coronas Blackdiamond earned his first win of the season and eighth career stakes victory.

Owned by Jewell Ramirez, Dance The Dust Off rallied from mid-pack to seize command in deep stretch and win by a neck, paying $20.80 to win at 9-1 odds.

The winning connections of Dance The Dust Off accept the $22,000 Bear River Stakes trophy at Wyoming Downs on Sunday. © Coady Media

Bred in New Mexico by Sarah E. Donaldson Rioux, the gelding is out of Magic Yard, by Ghazi. He was purchased for $3,500 at the 2017 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The gelding has now won 15 of 37 career starts, with 7 seconds and 1 third, and it pushed his earnings to $250,052 with the $13,200 winner’s share.

Saturday’s performance marked a return to top form for Dance The Dust Off, who entered off a troubled fifth-place finish in the July 12 Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge Stakes. Despite the setback, he owns a distinguished résumé that includes victories in the Grade 1 AQHA Distance Challenge Championship and the Grade 3 Will Rogers Downs Distance Challenge, showcasing his durability and class over the years.

Finishing second was the hard-knocking 9-year-old Thoroughbred Prizeless, who closed gamely under jockey David Cardoso for owner-trainer Mark Hibdon. The Louisiana-bred chestnut gelding, by Langfuhr out of Just Call Me Janet by Pure Prize, was bred by Bentley Early.

The runner-up effort brought his earnings to $388,299. His career record now stands at 62 starts, 18 wins, 11 seconds, and 6 thirds. Though he has never won a stakes, he placed second in the Derby Club Sprint Stakes earlier this May and showed strong late energy to earn another stakes placing here.

The 6-year-old Jess No Secrets, the 3-2 favorite, set the early pace before fading late to finish third by a neck. Ridden by Jimmy Coates and trained by Rick Scudder, the Colorado-bred son of No Secrets Here is out of Jess Breeze, by Feature Mr Jess.

Bred and owned by Ross V. Alire, the third place finish increased his bankroll to $88,696. A multiple stakes winner, Jess No Secrets entered off a win in the Wyoming Downs Distance Stakes on July 11.

Top of the Rock, Hasta Be a Moose, Rose Girl, Adios Cool Arrows, and Restless Rambler rounded out the order of finish.

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