Chilley Upsets Favorite Hi Octane To Capture First Stakes Victory In $112,225 Old South Derby At Delta Downs.

© Hodges Photography

By StallioneSearch

VINTON, LA–MAY 15, 2026– Third fastest qualifier Chilley surged late to capture his first career stakes victory Friday night in the $112,225 Old South Derby at Delta Downs Racetrack Casino Hotel. The sorrel colt narrowly defeated the game filly Sheza A Whirlawaytoo by a nose in the 330-yard final while earning the $56,113 winner’s share of the purse.

Owned by Keith Nellesen and ridden by Jorge Garcia, Chilley broke sharply and dueled throughout before edging clear at the wire in a final time of :16.678 over a fast track, equaling a 97 speed index. The colt was bred by Tommy and Tammy Finlinson and trained by Viviane Hill.

The winning connections of Chilley accept the $112,225 Old South Derby trophy at Delta Downs on Friday. © Hodges Photography

The victory did not come easily as Sheza A Whirlawaytoo ranged up alongside Chilley midway through the race and battled gamely all the way to the finish. Race favorite Hi Octane rallied late but was unable to threaten the top pair while finishing another half-length back in third.

A $19,500 graduate of the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale, Chilley is sired by Chilitos from the winning Shazoom mare Zoom In On Me, a half-sister to stakes placed runner Sammy Joe, earner of $62,003.

Sent to the gate at nearly 6-1 odds, Chilley returned $15.80 to win, $7.00 to place and $4.20 to show.

With the victory, Chilley improved his career record to 8 starts with 3 wins, 3 seconds and 1 third while increasing his lifetime earnings to $81,762.

Sheza A Whirlawaytoo and jockey H. Hernandez finished second after a determined effort throughout the stretch duel. The filly was bred by Buckskin EC, Inc., is owned by Ann Albin, and trained by Andre Brooks.

Sired by Whirlaway Red from the winning PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Lil Miss Party Doll, Sheza A Whirlawaytoo is a full sister to stakes winner Whirlaway Wagon, earner of $117,107, and a half-sister to stakes winners Hesa Party Wagon ($356,235) and Relentless Doll ($93,744).

Sheza A Whirlawaytoo now carries a career mark of 8-1-3-1 with earnings of $35,249. Still in search of her first stakes win, she finished her 2025 season as a finalist in the Texas Classic Juvenile at Lone Star Park.

Second fastest qualifier Hi Octane closed gamely to finish third under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo. The gelding was bred by Lance and Tammy Finlinson and is also owned by Keith Nellesen and trained by Viviane Hill.

The son of Apollitical Jess is out of the stakes-winning Valiant Hero mare Valiantinecandyrocks, winner of $260,779. The mare is a half-sister to stakes winners Rocks Candy Shop ($176,009) and Rock Hard Candy ($123,622), while the female family traces back to stakes winner Send Me The Candy and champions Chasing AJ and Jess Good Candy.

Hi Octane now sports a record of 10-4-1-5 with earnings of $262,082. Despite multiple graded stakes placings, including thirds in both the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge, the gelding is still seeking his first stakes victory.

Eyes So Gray finished fourth and was followed by Jess Telling Beau, CM Dashing Cartel, Prey N Corona, Ivorys Cartel, Syms Sin Tacha and AJ Big Cash.

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