Whiskey Diva Wins Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa Memorial Stakes Second Year Running

PRINEVILLE, OR–JULY 13, 2024–Last year's defending champion Whiskey Diva returns to the winner's circle for her second consecutive victory in the $12,000 Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa Memorial Stakes (not black type) at Crooked River Roundup on Friday night.

Whiskey Diva, piloted by Jake Samuels, popped out of the gates in second but quickly picked up the lead at first call for a 3/4-length victory over Fooses Flyer. The four-year-old Oregon-bred filly clocked a 98 speed index in :13.155 seconds on the 250-yard straightaway. The post-time favorite's victory paid $5.40 to win.

Fooses Flyer, with Jaime Lopez in the irons, rallied on the outside for second, getting place a neck over Apolinaria Prize and rider Salvador Ibarra, whose game effort got them third.

Freddy Ibarra saddled Whiskey Diva for owner Francisco Ruiz. The four-year-old daughter of Hes Relentless has lit the board ten of 13 starts with five career wins. The $4,800 winner's share of Friday night's purse boosted her earnings to $28,519.

Michael McKay and Pat Vanpelt bred Whiskey Diva out of the stakes-winning Volcom mare Fergilicious, who is a half-sister to Grade 3 winner and multiple stakes producer Go Girl Gone.

Trainer Benito Curiel conditions runner-up Fooses Flyer for owner/breeder Malon Cowgill. The stakes-winning daughter of Foose has seven career wins with $51,981 in the bank. The seven-year-old California-bred mare is out of Fly Thru Time by Strawfly Special.

EG High Desert Farms LLC bred Apolinaria Prize out of the Finding Nemo mare Ss Calendar Girl. She has earned $152,080 for owner Juan Manuel Marquez with seven career wins, four of which were stakes victories. Lorenzo Marquez Campos trains the five-year-old California-bred mare sired by Fast Prize Cartel.

Knocking It Off, Im Perky, L Bar D Rosie Lee, The Midnight Sky and Angelz Diva round out the order of finish.