Rj Spicer sprang a major upset in Saturday’s running of the Donnie Wheeler Memorial Derby at odds of 22.50-1.

© Eastern Idaho State Fair

By StallioneSearch

BLACKFOOT, ID—SEPTEMBER 6, 2025—Rj Spicer sprang a major upset in Saturday’s running of the $10,000 Donnie Wheeler Memorial Derby (not black type) at the Eastern Idaho State Fair in Blackfoot, wiring the field of 3-year-olds to score by a neck at odds of 22.50-1.

Under jockey Luis Collazo, the brown gelding broke sharply from post four and never trailed, covering the 350 yards over a fast track in 17.379 seconds, earning a 112 speed index despite a 10 mph crosswind.

Owned by Jose Rico and trained by Kylie Valenzuela, the son of champion sire The Louisiana Cartel out of the Walk Thru Fire mare Fearless Fire was bred in Utah by William P. Nolan. Saturday’s victory was worth $5,500 to the winner’s connections and boosted the multiple-stakes-placed gelding's earnings to $45,640.

Flybyby, the 2.60-1 stakes winning second choice, closed strongly late but could not get by the winner, finishing second by a neck under jockey Oscar Villa. The sorrel filly by champion Five Bar Cartel out of the Apollitical Jess mare Fly By You earned $2,500 for owner-trainer Adrian Zavala, who purchased her for $18,500 at the 2024 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. Bred in Louisiana by Arkofa Farm, Flybyby once again proved her consistency while collecting another stakes-placing to her résumé.

Sheknowsshesmokn finished third, rallying strongly in the final yards under jockey Jesus Flores but falling 1½ lengths short of the runner-up. The sorrel filly by Daguerre out of the Jumpn mare Smokn Mirrors earned $1,500 for owner-breeder Edward C. Jamison. Trained by Glen Jamison, Sheknowsshesmokn continues to display a late-running style that has made her a regular threat in allowance and stakes company. She has earned $28,039 in 17 career starts.

Rj Spicer returned $47.00 to win, $11.40 to place, and $6.80 to show. Flybyby paid $16.00 to place and $4.60 to show, while Sheknowsshesmokn returned $4.00 to show. The $2 exacta combination of 5-3 paid $340.00, and the $2 trifecta of 5-3-2 returned $1,568.40.

Also-rans in the field included Sheknowsshepunky, who ran evenly to finish fourth, Eg Secret in fifth, Luv Ya in sixth, and Tempting Look, who trailed the field in seventh.

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