Ozark Mountain Flies From Gate To Capture $10,000 Donnie Wheeler Memorial Derby

Ozark Mountain fired away from the gate and never surrendered the advantage Saturday, defeating Jp Superstar by three-quarters of a length to win the $10,000 Donnie Wheeler Memorial Derby (not black type) at the Eastern Idaho State Fair.

Sent off as the even-money favorite under jockey Brayan Juarez, Ozark Mountain covered the 350 yards in :17.793, earning a 95 speed index over a fast racing surface.

The 3-year-old gelding earned $5,500 for owner John D. McBride, increasing his career earnings to $14,575 from 10 starts. The victory was his fourth career win to go with three seconds.

Luis Olivas trains Ozark Mountain, a Utah-bred son of multiple stakes sire Jr Dynasty Mountain from the Dashair mare Miss Dashin Paris. McBride also bred the bay gelding.

Jp Superstar produced a late effort to secure second, finishing three-quarters of a length behind the winner and 1 1/4 lengths ahead of Cash Me Lew. The runner-up earned $2,500 for owner/trainer Jose A. Pulido. Luis A. Collazo had the riding assignment.

Bred by Vicente Treyes Valencia, Jp Superstar is a gelding by Concorde's Appeal from Race My Tell, by Never Tell. The Donnie Wheeler Memorial Derby runner-up effort increased his career earnings to $9,356 from seven starts. He has one win and two seconds and was previously a finalist in the Elko Quarter Horse Derby.

Cash Me Lew finished another 1 1/4 lengths back in third, earning $1,500 for owner Jennifer F. Orgill. Eric Ayala rode the Kyle Dahlke trainee, who broke alertly and battled on for third.

Bred by Carlie R. Rooney, Cash Me Lew is a son of multiple stakes sire Big Lew out of Centercurlincash, by Spit Curl Jess. The colt was a $10,000 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. He has now earned $11,518 from nine career starts, with two wins, one second, and two thirds. Cash Me Lew was also a finalist in the Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Derby.

Emperador Moctezuma finished fourth, while Streakarun completed the field in fifth.

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