Ronda Rowsey, under jockey Mauro Jesus Rodriguez, posted the fastest time from three trials contest Friday afternoon at Arapahoe Park for the Check Creek Futurity.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

AURORA, CO—SEPTEMBER 26, 2025—Ronda Rowsey stamped herself as the one to beat in the upcoming $98,000-est. Cherry Creek Futurity at Arapahoe Park with a sharp trial victory on Friday afternoon, recording the fastest qualifying time from three heats for accredited Colorado-bred 2-year-olds contested at 350 yards.

The ten fastest qualifiers from the trials will return for the October 12 final.

Bred and owned by George L. Seward, Ronda Rowsey broke alertly in the opening trial and quickly separated from her rivals, pulling away to a 2½-length victory under jockey Mauro Jesus Rodriguez.

The daughter of leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Ms Jess Knockout, by Apollitical Jess, stopped the timer in 17.854, a 95 speed index into a 5 mph crosswind, the quickest mark of the day.

She is trained by Fernando Ivan Manriquez. It was the brown filly's first win in six starts this season, and she was a $50,000 repurchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

The second-fastest time belonged to Cowgirls Miracle, who finished runner-up to Ronda Rowsey in the same trial. The gelded son of multiple stakes sire  Flare For Ivory out of Hooray Cowgirl by Separatist posted a clocking of 18.258 in only her second career start.

Owned by Barron Racing LLC, he was bred in Colorado by Sierra Hugo Barron and is conditioned by Jose Manuel Barron. Jockey Martin Lazalde had the riding call.

Stars For Ivory completed the list of top three qualifiers with a steady score in the third trial. The chestnut gelding, also campaigned by Barron Racing LLC, drew clear to win by more than a length, stopping the clock in 18.277.

By Flare For Ivory and out of Lunas Glitteringstar, by First Moonflash, he was bred in Colorado by Sierra Hugo Barron. Jose Manuel Barron trains the gelding, with Martin Lazalde in the irons. He was also breaking his maiden in his third career start.

The Cherry Creek Futurity final will be contested at 350 yards with an estimated purse of $98,000. CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers, times, connections, and breeding lines.

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