Kaseys Spirit, under jockey Jesus Valenzuela, races to the fastest qualifying time from four trials contested for the Young / Ford Wyoming Downs Derby at Wyoming Downs on Friday.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 18, 2025–Kaseys Spirit soared to the top of the leaderboard in the final trial of the day at Wyoming Downs, posting the fastest qualifying time for the $30,000-added Young / Ford Wyoming Downs Derby.

The 400-yard event for 3-year-old Quarter Horses will conclude with a ten-horse final on Saturday, August 9.

Bred and owned by CG Racing LLC, Kaseys Spirit surged late under jockey Jesus Valenzuela to win her heat by a neck, stopping the clock in 19.673, a 101 speed index with an 8 mph tailwind.

Trained by Kylie Valenzuela, the gray daughter of multiple stakes sire Kvn Corona is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare High Spirited Jess. The Idaho-bred filly recorded the top 400-yard time of the four trial heats contested Friday.

Undefeated in four starts last year, Kaseys Spirit won the Energy Downs 307 Open Futurity and Beehive Juvenile Stakes. Fourth in the Energy Downs Derby in her last start, she has banked $90,478 with six wins in seven starts.

Kissin Perfect, a bay filly by Kiss My Hocks out of Perfect Practice by One Famous Eagle, posted the second-fastest time of 19.697, also earning a101 speed index after finishing just a neck behind Kaseys Spirit in the final trial.

Owned and bred in Utah by Jason L. Berry, Kissin Perfect is trained by Sergio Canales and was ridden by Jesus J. Canales. The filly was prominent from the break and showed strong early speed before being caught late. Lightly raced, she has won two of five starts and was second in the Wyoming Downs Futurity a year ago. She has earned $54,660.

The trials were run under sloppy and muddy conditions with a tailwind, contributing to swift final times across the board.

The $30,000-added final of the Young / Ford Wyoming Downs Derby will be held on Saturday, August 9, and will feature the ten fastest qualifiers from the four trial heats. CLICK HERE for a list including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The lineup promises a competitive showdown among some of the region's most talented sophomore Quarter Horses.

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