Woody Rocks digs in late under jockey Omar Iturralde, to win the $234,015 New Mexico Classic Derby-G2 at Zia Park.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

HOBBS, NM–NOVEMBER 23, 2025–Woody Rocks delivered an upset at 9-1 odds in Sunday’s $234,015 New Mexico Classic Derby-G2 for his second stakes victory of the season. The sorrel gelding prevailed after a determined head-to-head battle with Boot Scoots.

Ridden by Omar Iturralde, Woody Rocks stopped the clock in 19.341 seconds for 400 yards, earning a 93 speed index. His winning effort paid $20.80 on a $2.00 wager.

Trained by Tony Sedillo, the gelding broke sharp and edged clear in the final strides. Sunday’s performance added $114,667 to his bankroll, pushing his total earnings to $436,507 for owner CHR Racing.

The winning connections of Woody Rocks accept the NM Classic Derby-G2 trophy at Zia Park on Sunday. © Coady Media

Woody Rocks, bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms, is a son of Woodbridge out of Jr Rock Star by Fantastic Corona Jr. The $25,000 purchase from the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico-Bred Yearling Sale has hit the board in ten of fifteen starts with seven wins, four of them in stakes races.

Earlier this year he captured the New Mexico HBA Stakes-G2 and previously won the Zia Futurity-G1 and Mountain Top Juvenile during his freshman season.

Boot Scoots finished second by a neck, securing the first black type of his career after dueling throughout. The Jess a Chicks gelding is out of Shez Jessa Scooter by Heza Motor Scooter and was bred by Jaime Cervantes. He also races for CHR Racing and is conditioned by Sedillo. With Oscar Andrade Jr. aboard, the runner-up effort pushed his total earnings to $92,739 from fifteen starts.

Myy Flashn Denali ran on for third, finishing another half-length back under jockey Jesse Levario. The gelding is by A Passion for Flashn and out of Denali Pyc by Pyc Paint Your Wagon. Bred by RC Racing LLC, he is campaigned by Rogelio Carrasco Jr. and trained by Jorge Morales-Flores.

His total earnings now stand at $132,392. Earlier this season Myy Flashn Denali placed third in the New Mexico HBA Stakes-G2 and was a finalist in the NMSF Derby-G2, Shue Fly Stakes-G2, and Mountain Top NM Bred Derby-G3.

Row by Row followed in fourth, with Big Allstar fifth, Kj Bad Moon Rising sixth, Alamos seventh, Benton Lane eighth, and One Oh Too completing the order in ninth.

******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.