Pocatello Downs comes alive on Sunday, May 3rd, as a nine-race card kicks off at 1:00 PM, featuring a dynamic afternoon of competition highlighted by two sets of trials that will shape the next wave of contenders.

© Pocatello Downs

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott
 

POCATELLO, ID–May 1, 2026—Pocatello Downs comes alive on Sunday, May 3rd, as a nine-race card kicks off at 1:00 PM, featuring a dynamic afternoon of competition highlighted by two sets of trials that will shape the next wave of contenders. With thirty-one juveniles lining up across five trial heats for the Pocatello Downs Spring Classic Futurity and eighteen seasoned sophomores contesting three heats in the Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Open Derby Trials, the day promises intensity from start to finish. Adding to the atmosphere, special guest Layne Bowen will bring live entertainment, making it a full day of racing and excitement as competitors chase a spot among the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the May 25th finals.

The spotlight first turns to races two through six, where thirty-one mixed-breed juveniles will make their mark going 300 yards in the Spring Classic Futurity Trials.

Trainer Sergio Canales will be a key figure throughout, sending out four contenders with high expectations. His standout appears to be One Fast S in race five, the fourth trial heat, installed as the 2-1 morning line favorite. The filly has impressed in morning preparations, including a sharp April 10th work covering 250 yards in 14.09, breezing from the gate and posting one of the top times of the session.

Owned and bred in Utah by Michael K. McKell, the daughter of Valiant Hero out of Melisa With One S, brings both pedigree and preparation into her debut. Jockey Jesus J. Canales will team up with his brother in a strong family connection, breaking from post three with the goal of securing a qualifying effort.

The fourth trial heat also features a serious contender in Five Bar Dlt, another 2-1 favorite who has shown speed in the mornings. His April 11th gate work of 13.85 for 250 yards signals readiness, and if he delivers a clean break, he looms as a major threat to post one of the fastest times of the day.

Sired by Five Bar Cartel and out of Shes All Mighty, the Louisiana-bred gelding was purchased for $13,000 at the Heritage Place Sale and represents the connections of trainer Luis Gomez, along with partners Salvador and Eddie Gomez. Breaking from the outside post six, he will have jockey Raul Zapien aboard as they look to convert strong preparation into a top qualifying performance.

These trials mark the first career starts for many of the juveniles, adding an element of unpredictability as raw talent meets race-day pressure. With a berth in the $10,000-added Pocatello Downs Spring Classic Futurity Final on the line, every stride will matter as the next group of rising prospects begins to take shape.

The action continues in races seven through nine with the Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Open Derby Trials, where eighteen three-year-olds will test their speed over 350 yards. The final race on the card, the ninth, appears loaded with talent and could ultimately produce the fastest qualifier of the day.

Cash Me Lew headlines the field as the 6-5 morning line favorite. The colt closed out his juvenile season in impressive fashion, breaking sharply and drawing clear to win by a length while earning a 97-speed index. Since arriving at Pocatello Downs, he has maintained that momentum with a sharp April 12th work of 12.13 for 220 yards.

Sired by Big Lew and out of Centercurlincash, the Oklahoma-bred colt was a $10,000 Heritage Place purchase for owner Jennifer F. Orgill. Trainer Kyle Dahlke will saddle him from post six with Minor Arana aboard, aiming to translate early promise into Derby success.

Sharing the spotlight in that same heat is Mv Goldheart Foose, listed at 2-1 on the morning line. The consistent filly hit the board in all five starts as a two-year-old and enters her sophomore campaign with a solid foundation. Her April 20th work at 250 yards in 13.00 ranks among the better efforts of the meet, indicating she is primed for a strong return.

Bred in Idaho by Eddie Jensen, she is sired by Gold Heart Eagle V out of Royal Fooseprerrypie and will be guided by jockey Luis Cruz Ruiz from post three under the direction of trainer Tony Hyde.

With a combination of emerging juveniles and proven sophomores, Sunday’s program offers a compelling mix of fresh talent and developing stars. As the gates open and the clock becomes the ultimate judge, fans can expect a day filled with speed, anticipation, and standout performances. Between the high-stakes trials and live music from Layne Bowen, Pocatello Downs delivers an experience that blends competition and entertainment, setting the tone for an exciting road to the May 25th finals.

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