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GREAT FALLS, MT–JULY 13, 2024–Seasoned runner First Moon Cat gets her first win of the season from a field of four in the $8,000 Steel Etc Stakes (not black type) at Great Falls on Saturday.

Shaunda Larsen got the leg up aboard the eight-year-old mare and piloted her to a 1/2-length victory over Tw Itsalrightnow in :15.461 seconds. First Moon Cat clocked a 102 speed index, and the 300-yard victory paid $5.20 to win on 8/5 odds.

The $4,400 winner's portion of the purse improved her bank to $66,775. Trainer Clifton Dennis conditions the six-time winner for owner/breeder Jeff Ray. First Moon Cat's other blacktype titles from 35 starts include a first in the Pocatello Downs Distaff Challenge, second in the Grants Pass Q-Racing Video Distaff Challenge Stakes, and third in the Grants Pass Distaff Challenge Stakes and Grants Pass Distaff Championship Challenge Stakes.

First Moon Cat was bred out of the Juno Dat Cash mare Yak Ity Yak Go in Washington.

Runner up Tw Itsalrightnow was bred by Tom Williams in Montana out of Kaweahs Blurr by Kaweah Sunrise. The six-year-old son of Im Alright has lit the board 20 of 26 starts with $31,438 in earnings. Joseph Sandoval saddled jockey Fernando Gamez aboard the five-time winner for owners Harold and Arlene Wippert.

Trained by Harold Wippert Jr, Ms Clara was piloted by Richard Birdrattler to her third-place finish over Yo Barely A Glance and jockey Shance Birdrattler. The Wipperts also own the multiple-winning daughter of Comanche Moon, who has earned them $22,655 from 13 starts. Randy and Linda Schalla bred the four-year-old filly in New Mexico out of Im Jesses Lucky Girl by Jesse James Jr.

Yo Barely A Glance, who rounded out the order of finish in fourth, has five wins from 20 starts with $56,031 in earnings. Gerald Kaul bred the four-year-old daughter of Fiftyshadezofgrey in Wyoming out of Barely A Secret by Brindis Por Cayenne. Jesse Villegas trains the brown filly for owner Juanita Villegas. Baby I Do was scratched.