Yo Morning Delite, ridden by Jacob Cardenas, wins the Governor's Cup Stakes by a nose over Imaginacion on Sunday at Wyoming Downs.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JUNE 29, 2025–In a late surge at the wire, Yo Morning Delite edged out Imaginacion in a photo finish to win the $37,000 Governor’s Cup Stakes on Sunday at Wyoming Downs. The two veterans battled to the wire in a close drive, with Yo Morning Delite getting the nod by a nose after the camera review. The finish was part of a blanket outcome, with the top five runners separated by only a few feet.

The win was Yo Morning Delite’s first of the season following a third-place effort in the Ron Moosman Memorial Stakes and a fifth in the Energy Downs Maturity. The 5-year-old gelding, ridden by Jacob Cardenas, covered the 300 yards in 15.639 seconds over a fast track, earning a 92 speed index.

Yo Morning Delite earned $22,200 for the Governor’s Cup triumph, and the effort paid $27.60 to win on 12-1 odds. The son of Brindis Por Cayenne was bred in Wyoming by his owner Gerald F. Kaul out of Rs Afternoon Delite, by Southern Corona.

The winning connections of Yo Morning Delite accept the Governor’s Cup Stakes trophy at Wyoming Downs on Sunday. © Coady Media

Trained by Jess Matt, this victory marks his 17th career win out of 27 starts, bringing his total earnings to $215,835. It also represents his seventh stakes victory, which includes titles in the WABRA Wyoming Bred Maturity, Silks & Spurs Maturity, Wyoming Bred Derby, and Wyoming Accredited Stallions Owners Derby.

Imaginacion, who came into the race off consecutive wins, including the Energy Downs Maturity, settled for second by a nose. Trained by Joe Davis for the Imaginacion Partners, he earned $7,400, increasing his bankroll to $152,721. Ridden by Cordarelton Benn, the son of Hes Relentless’s runner-up effort improved his record to 5-6-2 from 20 starts.

Bred in Oklahoma by Jahree Standridge, the 4-year-old gelding is out of Pollitical Scorpion, by Apollitical Jess. He was purchased for $11,000 at the 2022 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Finishing third by a neck was Runaway Witch, who was ridden by Larry Marquez. She has seven career wins from 21 starts, with previous stakes wins in the Bitterroot Futurity (G3), Arizona Downs Derby Challenge, and Animas Stakes.

Owned by LG Racing LLC and trained by Luis Gonzalez, the six-year-old mare earned $3,700 for the show, bringing her career earnings to $211,628. Runaway Witch was a $16,000 purchase at the 2020 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She is by Sir Runaway Dash, out of Im a Lil Witch, by Game Patriot, and was bred in Louisiana by Tyler Graham and Robert Touchet.

Rounding out the field, Ms Flaming Finish was fourth, Pappajeto in fifth, Bee a Freight Train finished sixth, Dads Racy Te in seventh, Rockin Jo Kool took eighth, followed by Ud Goldenboy in ninth, and Ivorybudsnblossoms completing the field in tenth.

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