Rtm Hot Milk Tops Utah Classic Derby Trials at Weber Downs

Rtm Hot Milk continued her outstanding 3-year-old campaign Sunday afternoon at Weber Downs, edging Thought It Deluxe by a nose to post the fastest qualifying time from three trials for the $15,000-added Utah Classic Derby.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from Sunday's 400-yard trials will return to Weber Downs for the Utah Classic Derby final on October 4.

Rtm Hot Milk won the opening trial in :19.594 to establish the fastest qualifying time. Breaking sharply under jockey Dakota Wood, the gray filly dueled Thought It Deluxe throughout before prevailing by a nose. The effort produced a 97 speed index. A 15-mph crosswind was reported for the trial.

The victory continued a strong season for Rtm Hot Milk, who has now won seven of nine career starts with one second and one third while earning $47,075. She entered Sunday's trials off a victory in the Blackfoot Derby on September 7 and previously won the Idaho Cup Derby and Idaho Cup Futurity.

Mark Hanson trains Rtm Hot Milk for owner RTM Stables LLC. Susan T. Hanson bred the Idaho-bred daughter of leading sire Kiss My Hocks from Rtm Say Your Prayers, by Chickie Cherry Cola.

Thought It Deluxe gave the fastest qualifier everything she could handle, finishing second in the first trial by just a nose while recording the second-fastest qualifying time of :19.601.

The 3-year-old gelding has compiled a 14-2-7-1 career record with earnings of $21,540. He has finished second in the Roche Equine Veterinary Services Futurity, Five Livestock Company & Rod Mills Memorial Derby, and Oneida County Mixed Breed Derby.

Owned and bred in Idaho by Jorge Murillo, Thought It Deluxe is trained by Jose A. Pulido and was ridden by Luis A. Collazo. The gelding is by multiple stakes sire Eagle Deluxe, out of Thought It Through, by Foose.

Shamrock S completed a sweep of the three fastest qualifying positions from the opening trial. The 3-year-old gelding finished third, one-half length behind Rtm Hot Milk, while stopping the timer in :19.661 for the third-fastest time.

A finalist in the Bitterroot Futurity (RG3) and Beehive Futurity, Shamrock S has won two of 10 career starts and earned $20,046.

Francisco Alcala owns Shamrock S, a Utah-bred son of Kvn Corona from Melisa With One S, by One Famous Eagle. Michael K. McKell bred the gelding, Bret Vickery trains, and Julian Zavala was aboard Sunday.

High Flying Storm won the second trial by a neck in :19.974 to secure the sixth-fastest qualifying time. The Eagles Fly Higher filly, a $11,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, races for Lucky T Stables LLC and trainer Clay Teeter.

Flashing Lights captured the final trial in :20.034. The Giovanni Ortiz-owned and trained daughter of The Marfa Lights won by three-quarters of a length under Brayan Juarez. Paris Wixon bred the Louisiana-bred filly from Cara Cara, by Teller Cartel.

Sunday's trials were conducted over a fast racing surface under clear skies at 84 degrees.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

* * * * * * * * * * *

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.