Jockey David Alvarez Jr. rode Ojd Jess A Bug to a 4-1/2 length win and the fastest time for the $50,000-added Sweetwater Downs Derby on Sunday at Sweetwater Downs.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ROCK SPRINGS, WY—AUGUST 24, 2025—Six trials for the $50,000-added Sweetwater Downs Derby were contested Sunday at Sweetwater Downs, where undefeated multiple stakes winner Ojd Jess A Bug posted the fastest qualifying time of the day.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return for the 400-yard final on Sunday, September 7.

Ojd Jess A Bug, a 3-year-old bay gelding by One Sweet Jess out of Bugs Wagon by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, turned in a sharp performance in the final trial, pulling away to win by an impressive 4 ¼ lengths.

Ridden by David Alvarez Jr. for owners-breeders Karla Diaz Gomez and Oscar Jaime Diaz, the gelding stopped the timer in 19.442 seconds, a 107 speed index, the quickest of the afternoon. Bred in Idaho, Ojd Jess A Bug was saddled to his 10th career win in 10 starts by trainer Javier Fuentes.

Ojd Jess A Bug has won the Bitterroot Futurity(G3), Sweetwater Downs Futurity, Hadley/Giles Futurity, Gillette Derby, and Energy Downs Derby and earned almost $230,000.

The second-fastest qualifier came from the third trial, where Whiskey Talkin impressed with a commanding victory. The sorrel filly by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of Peppermint Seis by Tres Seis crossed the wire in 19.581 seconds, a 103 speed index, under Noe Garcia Jr. for owner J Lazy Six Racing.

Bred in Arizona by Paragon Farms LLC, Whiskey Talkin is trained by Dru S. Hall and showed strong speed from the gate to secure her spot in the final. She has won three of eight starts and earned $31,637.

Rounding out the top three qualifiers was Kaseys Spirit, who set the tone early in her trial by leading from gate to wire to post a 19.629-second, a 102 speed index, effort.

The gray filly is by champion and multiple stakes sire Kvn Corona out of High Spirited Jess by Mr Jess Perry and is trained by Kylie Valenzuela for owner CG Racing LLC.

Jesus Valenzuela rode the multiple stakes-winning Idaho-bred filly, who CG Racing LLC bred. A winner of seven of nine starts, Kaseys Spirt won the Energy Downs 307 Open Futurity and the Beehive Juvenile Stakes last year. A winner of seven of nine starts, she has earned $95,317.

The final for the Sweetwater Downs Derby promises to be highly competitive, featuring the fastest 10 qualifiers from today’s trials. The winner will take home a share of the $50,000-added purse when the field returns on Sunday, September 7, at Sweetwater Downs. CLICK HERE for the complete qualifiers, times, breeding, and connections list.

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