Relentless Rocket, under jockey Ramiro Garcia, surged late to capture the $110,420 Altoona Derby on Friday night at Prairie Meadows.

© Jack Coady Photography

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ALTOONA, IA–SEPTEMBER 26, 2025–Relentless Rocket strung together his fourth consecutive victory on Friday night, surging late under jockey Ramiro Garcia to win the $110,420 Altoona Derby at Prairie Meadows by a neck over stablemate Flying Bandida.

The son of Hes Relentless stopped the clock in 19.931 seconds, earning a 91 speed index and adding $49,689 to his bankroll for owner Tom Maher.

Trained by Jason Olmstead, Relentless Rocket has now captured nine career wins from 17 starts, including four stakes triumphs. Earlier this season, he won the Canterbury Park Derby and finished third in the Prairie Meadows Gold Derby. As a juvenile, he claimed both the Northlands Futurity and the Valley Junction Juvenile Stakes.

The winning connections of Relentless Rocket accept the Altoona Derby trophy at Prairie Meadows on Friday. © Jack Coady Photography

Bred in South Dakota by Tom and Bill Maher, the gelding is out of Mai Corona, by Corona Cartel. His career earnings now total $170,649.

Flying Bandida, a gray daughter of Flying Cowboy 123, held second throughout under jockey Armando Alvidrez for owners Shari Burger and Vickie McBee. The Oklahoma-bred filly is out of Meaningful Memories, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, and was also bred by Shari A. Burger.

Flying Bandida has been a consistent competitor this season with earnings of $161,142, placing earlier in the Prairie Meadows Gold Derby and making the finals of both the Heritage Place Oaks (G2) and the Remington Park Oaks.

Rounding out the trifecta was Captain Blood, a sorrel gelding by Apollitical Blood. He is owned by Jesus Perales and trained by Haley Hobbs. With jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto aboard, he rallied for third to secure his first black type performance.

Bred in Oklahoma by J. Garvan Kelly and J. Lloyd Yother, he is out of Martinis N Bikinis, by Red Storm Cat, and was a $56,000 purchase at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. The third-place finish was worth $11,042.

The order of finish was completed by Relentless Bux, Ls Jacks Back, Kvn Like Fly, Candy Diva, Jet Black Streak, Sweet Baby James, and Pfr Road Rage.

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