Friday afternoon at Wyoming Downs will feature an action-packed 11-race card starting at 2:00 p.m., with the spotlight on 42 talented three-year-olds competing in five trial heats for the $32,500-added Young Ford Wyoming Downs Derby.

© Wyoming Downs

By LouanneWainscott, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 16, 2026–Friday afternoon at Wyoming Downs will feature an action-packed 11-race card starting at 2:00 p.m., with the spotlight on 42 talented three-year-olds competing in five trial heats for the $32,500-added Young Ford Wyoming Downs Derby. The trials will be run in races three through seven, with the ten fastest qualifiers earning a return trip to the finals on July 23.

One of the afternoon's most intriguing storylines unfolds in race four, the second trial heat, where supplemental entries Jessies Pyc and Spelling Bee will make their bids for the finals after their connections each paid the $4,000 supplemental entry fee. Jessies Pyc has been installed at 20-1 on the morning line, while Spelling Bee enters as the 7-2 second choice, adding even more depth to one of the day's most competitive trials.

The horse to beat in that heat is In the Vee, the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The accomplished gelding enters off a determined runner-up finish in the 307HR Wyoming Bred Derby, narrowly defeated by a neck. He also put in a strong effort earlier this season, qualifying for the Dan Lockie Derby.

His juvenile campaign established him as one of Wyoming's top runners, highlighted by wins in both the WABRA Wyoming Bred Futurity and the Bucking Horse Sale Futurity. He also finished third in the Wyoming Bred Futurity and fourth in the Ron Cook Accredited Wyoming Bred Futurity. With seven wins from 12 career starts and earnings of $175,361, he brings the strongest resume into the trial.

Owned by Eddie Jensen, In the Vee was bred in Wyoming by Dan and Kim Lapierre. The son of Junior June Bug is out of the Brindis Por Cayenne mare Brindis Secret and is trained by Jess R. Matt. Jacob Cardenas has the mount from post two.

The final trial of the afternoon, race seven, appears to be the deepest and could very well produce one of the day’s fastest qualifying times as M E Kool Carter and Cowboy Cadilac square off in a highly anticipated matchup.

M E Kool Carter enters as the 7-2 morning-line favorite after a perfect three-for-three record this season. His latest victory came in the Idaho Cup Derby Finals, continuing a breakout sophomore campaign. As a two-year-old, he qualified for the Idaho Cup Futurity, where he finished third, qualified for the Grade 3 Bitterroot Futurity, and was runner-up in the Elko Intermountain Futurity. The Idaho-bred gelding has won five of his career starts, earning $44,982.

Bred and owned by Dave Merritt and Kim Newman, M E Kool Carter is by Carters Cartel and out of the One Sweet Jess mare Kool Sweet Jess. Jarrett Mills trains the gelding, who will break from post eight with Eric Ayala aboard.

Breaking alongside him from post nine is Cowboy Cadilac, the 4-1 morning-line second choice. The Oklahoma-bred colt captured his 307HR Open Derby Trial in early June, then encountered trouble in an allowance race, breaking fourth and rallying to finish just half a length behind the winner. During his juvenile season, Cowboy Cadilac captured the Sweetwater Downs Futurity and has since won four of ten career starts, earning $114,364.

Owned by Bill Doenz, Cowboy Cadilac is a son of Flying Cowboy 123, out of the Hes Relentless mare EC Brandi. Josh Taylor conditions the talented colt, and David Alvarez Jr. is named to ride.

Friday's program, featuring five competitive trial heats with proven stakes performers, emerging stars, and intriguing supplemental entries, promises an exciting afternoon of racing. By day's end, only the ten fastest three-year-olds will have secured their places in the $32,500-added Young Ford Wyoming Downs Derby Finals, setting the stage for what should be an outstanding championship event on July 23.

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