Jesus Virgen guided Sj Illusive N Shady to a head victory in the $118,350 WABRA Wyoming Bred QH Derby on Saturday at Sweetwater Downs.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

ROCK SPRINGS, WY–SEPTEMBER 27, 2025–Longshots lit up the board in the $118,350 WABRA Wyoming Bred QH Derby on Saturday at Sweetwater Downs, where Sj Illusive N Shady surged late to nail a photo finish over A Shot of Luck and Chase This Creek.

Breaking a step slow, Sj Illusive N Shady gathered momentum in the final strides to prevail by a head under jockey Jesus Virgen. He stopped the timer in 17.360 seconds for 350 yards, earning a 98 speed index. Sent off at odds of 10-1, his 350-yards effort returned $23.60 to win.

From 14 career starts, he has compiled a record of five wins, three seconds, and two thirds with $116,343 in earnings after cashing in the $47,340 winner’s share.

The winning connections of Sj Illusive N Shady accept the WABRA Wyoming Bred QH Derby stakes trophy on Saturday. © Coady Media

Saturday’s victory marked his first win of the season after earning black type earlier this summer with a third-place effort in the Sweetwater Downs Governor’s Handicap. Last year, he captured the Wyoming Bred Futurity.

The 3-year-old son of Fiftyshadezofgrey is out of Secretly Illusive, by Beduino Secret. Bred in Wyoming by Gerald F. Kaul, he races for Stephanie and Jim Ferguson and is trained by Jose Rivas Guzman.

Runner-up A Shot Of Luck, a 19-1 outsider, was just up for second under Jose Olivo, finishing a nose in front of the his stablemate Chase This Creek.

The sorrel gelding is by Glock and out of Fleur Fina, by Apollitical Jess. He was bred in Wyoming by Ron and Laurie Moosman, is owned by Joel Valenzuela.

Trained by Kylie Valenzuela, the $23,670 payday pushed A Shot Of Luck’s earnings to $38,625 from 10 starts. Earlier this month, he broke his maiden at Sweetwater Downs and was also a finalist in the Wyoming Bred Derby at Energy Downs.

Third-place finisher Chase This Creek, a 12-1 long shot, closed strongly to finish another half-length back under jockey Luis Peralta.

The bay gelding is by Conn Creek and out of Leading the Chase, by Chase This Leader. He was bred in Wyoming by Bud and Toni Pendleton and races for owner Toni Pendleton.

Also trained by Kylie Valenzuela, he earned $11,835 to bring his career total to $21,830. Chase This Creek was a finalist in last year’s Wyoming Bred Derby.

The order of finish was completed by Kcross Comin in Hot, Y O At a Glance, Bv Camila, Y O She Is a Runner, Papas Tribe, and Mr Volaris.

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