Tossin And Turnin Powers To Sweetwater Downs Derby Victory
By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch
ROCK SPRINGS, WY—September 5, 2026
Tossin And Turnin powered home to win the $163,400 Sweetwater Downs Derby on Sept. 5 at Sweetwater Downs.
Ridden by Nestor Duran, Tossin And Turnin covered the 400 yards in :19.770, defeating Terry Mesu by a half-length. Owned and trained by Oscar Diaz, the gelding improved his record to 11-4-2-2 and increased his earnings to $142,864.
Earlier this season, Tossin And Turnin finished second in the Young Ford Wyoming Downs Derby. Last year, he finished fourth in the TQHA Sale Futurity (G1). Bred by Jerry Chapman, the Texas-bred gelding is sired by Kiss My Hocks and out of the Carters Cartel mare Queen Of The Kartel.
Terry Mesu crossed the wire second under Juan Pulido, giving owner and trainer Oscar Diaz the top two finishers. Bred by Bobby Cox, the gelding is sired by Favorite Cartel and out of the Apollitical Jess mare Jess A Sweetie. He has a record of 10-4-2-2 with $103,654 in earnings. Last year, Terry Mesu finished fourth in the Los Alamitos 2 Million Juvenile Stakes.
Flying Rocco finished third under Cesar Moreno for owner and breeder J.P. Sample and trainer Uriel Dominguez. Sired by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Looking For Chicks mare This Chicks A Queen, the gelding has a record of 14-7-1-2 with $138,424 in earnings. Earlier this year, he won the KC Carden Wyoming Bred Derby after finishing second in the Wyoming Bred Futurity last season.
Following two disqualifications, KR Cartels Calamity was placed fourth, followed by Make It Rayne, Tacha Sparklin Eye, Fire in the Whole, Glocketta, Chillithang and Kit Karsyn. Glocketta originally crossed the wire fourth but was disqualified and placed eighth for interference at the start, while Kit Karsyn was disqualified from ninth and placed 10th for interference against Chillithang.
In the $25,000 Sweetwater Downs Derby Consolation, Ca Mental Cartel surged to a neck victory under jockey Jacob Cardenas. The filly covered 400 yards in :20.058 for owner Lana Matt and trainer Jess Matt.
Bred by Lou Weaver, Ca Mental Cartel is sired by Mental Error and out of the One Famous Eagle mare Lil Baby Eagle. She now has a record of 12-6-2-1 with $80,491 in earnings and won last year's Charles M. Russell Futurity.