November 11-17 Stakes Recap

Following is a recap of all official American Quarter Horse stakes and trials for the week of November 11-17. For recaps of most graded stakes, AQHA Racing Challenge stakes and trials, and most stakes with purses of $100,000 or more, see the individual recaps in the Racing News section. This page will be updated throughout the week.

Arapahoe Park
Ronda Rowsey provided a metaphorical knockout to the field in the $60,698 Mile High Futurity on Sunday at Arapahoe Park.   

George L. Seward bred and owns the Favorite Cartel filly, who was trained by Fernando Manriquez and earns her third career win from nine starts this year. The filly shares a very similar name to the famous mixed martial arts fighter and Olympic gold medalist Ronda Rousey.  

In the Mile High Futurity, Mauro Rodriguez guided her into the gates and saw her break cleanly. She held off the late charge of RC Juliet to win the 400-yard race in :20.043. 

Sunshining was third, followed by Deja Dulce, One Glittering Flare, Kamikaze Cartel, Single Yesterday and Eagle V Wagon Jr. 

Ronda Rowley has won or placed in seven of those nine starts, and earned $61,514. She is out of the Apollitical Jess mare Ms Jess Knockout.  

Sheza Fearless Eagle clipped off her fourth win in a row on Sunday, November 16, at Arapahoe Park, flying to win the $54,958 Mile High Derby.

Ridden by Mauro Rodriguez and trained by Fernando Manriquez and going 400 yards, the One Fabulous Eagle filly got a clean start and then pulled away to romp home two lengths better than her nearest rival, Fancys Prize Corona. Sheza Fearless Eagle stopped the clock in :19.792. 

Cotton Candy Sunset was third, followed by Lethal D, AJ Favorite OK, Access Granted, Unbridled Favor, Paramounte Wagon Jr and Glittr Factory.

Jill Cook owns the filly and bred her along with her late husband Vaughn. Sheza Fearless Eagle has now won eight of 15 career starts and earned $259,597. To date this year, she contested the Heritage Place Oaks (G2) and All American Oaks (G1), and since landing at Arapahoe won her trial and the final of both the Lucille Rowe Derby and this race. She also won the Valley Junction Futurity (G3) last year.    

Sheza Fearless Eagle is out of the Tres Seis mare Ima Fearless Fire, from the female family of Dasha Freda, the mother of world champion Heza Dasha Fire and champion Ima Fearless Hero. 

Presido Pete won the $15,660 Rocky Mountain Championship on the same November 16 card at Arapahoe Park. 

Bred and owned by Francisco J. Cornejo and trained by Haley Hobbs, Presido Pete and jockey Fernando Fonseca-Soto dug in over the 440 yards to win in :22.275. Apolliticalbest Card was second, followed by KVN Dulce Corona, Country Rocket Foose and Diabolical Clyde. 

Presido Pete has now won four of 10 starts this year, including the Leo Beau Dash Stakes and Dolls Prodigy Stakes. In his career, he has won nine of 26 starts and earned $131,068. 

Sired by The Marfa Lights, he is out of the Wave Carver mare Tahiti Wave.      

Lone Star Park
Diamond Cowgirl 123 captured her first stakes victory on the undercard of Texas Classic night at Lone Star Park, winning the $47,921 Texas Classic Juvenile with a late surge to the wire of the 400-yard race.

Trained by champion trainer Marc Jungers and ridden by champion jockey Christian Ramos, the daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 overcame early bumping to surge to the front and win by a half length in :19.693. Eagles Diamond was second, followed by The Talk, race favorite Ding Dang Dulce, Sew Fast, Eagles A Bit Rusty, Jessie Boy, Sheza A Whirlawaytoo and Cyber De Capo. 

Owned by the Diamond Cowgirl Partnership, the filly has now won two of seven starts and earned $30,796.  Bred by Mercy Hinklins Horse Farm, she is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Tres Seis mare Tres Seis Diamond. 

The freshman gelding VP Dash For Texas honored the great racehorse Ochoa on Friday, November 14, with a half-length victory in the $30,000 Ochoa Stakes at Lone Star Park. 

The 350-yard race for 2-year-olds was held on the eve of the big Texas Classic night, and honors the great Texas-bred who held the all-time leading money earning title for many years with $2,781,365 in career earnings. 

VP Dash For Texas races for his breeder Victor Villarreal MD, and was ridden by Nestor Duran. They loaded into Post 4 and broke alertly, edging up to win in :17.501. Political Assassin was second, followed by Real Quick Flirt, Run On Monday, Sinnin Hot Pepper, FDD El Jefe and Mr Chato Perez. 

Zackery Rios saddled the horse, who has won three of five career starts and earned $46,959. VP Dash For Texas is by PYC Prize Time and out of the Dr Beduino mare GW Money Dash. 

Turf Paradise
On Monday, November 17, Wicked Cowgirl Smart broke a 9-year-old track record in the $27,800 Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes when she went 300 yards in :15.229, lowering the previous track record set by Sea Panther Run on January 10,2016,  by 4/100ths. 

Wicked Cowgirl Smart races for her breeder, J Lazy Six Racing. Jockey Kevin Carbajal hung on to the flying 4-year-old mare who won with a driving finish, a half length better than Royal Post. Basking was third, followed by Rockin Jo Kool, Shiny Nova, Jess Mr Mayito, CD Favorite Lady, Tell Jones and Jessaprimadonna. 

Wicked Cowgirl Smart was trained by David Williams, and this marks her second win of five starts this year. It is also her eighth career win from 17 career starts, and pushes her lifetime earnings to $144,663. Last year she won the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby and in 2023 she won the Fred Scane Stakes.

Sired by Flying Cowboy 123, Wicked Cowgirl Smart is out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare DF I Aint Jo Wagon.

Will Rogers Downs
Flying Nova 123 got stronger with every stride to capture the $80,704 Mystery Derby at Will Rogers Downs on November 11, winning by three-quarters of a length as the race favorite.

Guided by Roman Cruz, the black filly broke alertly and pulled away in :17.696 for the 350-yards to add $32,782 to her career bankroll.

Relentless Purrsuit was second, followed by Lomax, Valiant Painted Sign, Flying Wrangler, Fine Wine Kisses, Ima Fancy Eye Opener, Brisa De Mar, My Midnight Cowgirl and Flying Bandida. 

This is Flying Nova 123's fourth win from eight starts this year, and her eighth career victory in 15 career starts. She won the Golden Driller Stakes earlier this summer. Her lifetime bankroll stands at $109,427. 

Flying Nova 123 is trained by Jesus Ruiz for breeders and owners Rick and Connie Dickson. She is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Mighty B Valiant mare SR Shegone. She is a third-generation homebred for them; they also bred SR Shegone and her dam, Jessta Lil Spitfire. 

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