Notoryous Drives Home To Win $126,250 Gillespie County Fair Derby

LA Racing Stables LLC's fastest qualifier Notoryous delivered a determined late drive Sunday afternoon to capture the $126,250 Gillespie County Fair Derby at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds.

Sent away as the 7-10 favorite under jockey Nestor Duran, Notoryous raced within striking distance before finishing strongly to defeat El Derecho by three-quarters of a length. The gray colt completed the 350 yards in :17.618, earning a 97 speed index over a fast racing surface. A 10 mph headwind was recorded for the race.

The victory was worth $44,188 and improved Notoryous' career record to four wins and five seconds from 10 starts with earnings of $97,543. He was also runner-up in the Ah Sigh Handicap and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Trainer Samuel Mendoza conditions the son of leading sire One Famous Eagle for LA Racing Stables LLC. Bred in Texas by Bobby D. Cox, Notoryous is out of multiple stakes producer Eye Popping, by champion sire Mr Eye Opener.

Notoryous was a $300,000 purchase from the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

El Derecho battled gamely for runner-up honors, finishing three-quarters of a length behind the winner and holding a nose advantage over Mako Shark Watters. The second-place effort earned $18,937 for owner Kalinos Racing LLC.

Luis L. Vivanco rode the Freighttrain B gelding for trainer Ben Olaveson. Bred by Cox-Lane LLC, El Derecho is out of Apollitical Regard, by leading sire Apollitical Jess. The $50,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate has won three of 10 career starts with one second and four thirds while earning $48,822.

Mako Shark Watters finished another nose back in third and was a half-length clear of fourth-place finisher Toby Two. The Sunset Well Service Inc. homebred earned $12,625 for his effort, boosting his career earnings to $64,190.

Oliver E. Martinez rode Mako Shark Watters for trainer Arnold Lewis and owner/breeder Sunset Well Service Inc. The son of multiple stakes sire Muddy Watters is out of Ms Flashy Eyes, by Mr Jess Perry. Offered at the 2024 TQHA Yearling Sale, he was a $18,000 RNA.

With Sunday's result added to his previous statistics, Mako Shark Watters has compiled a record of 13 starts, three wins, two seconds and three thirds. He was also third in the Silver Bullet Stakes and fourth in the Gillespie County Fair Firecracker Futurity.

Completing the field were Toby Two, Coweta Corona, Giocosa, Texas Bolt 23, Prey N Corona and Docs Magic Card. Shot of Takillya was scratched by the stewards.

Editor’s note: A photo of this race will be posted when it becomes available from the track photographer.

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