MALAD, ID— AUGUST 12, 2017—A trio of geldings hit the wire together in the $1,900 3-R’s Country Tire Maiden Frolic at the Oneida County Fair, but it was Awesomer who lived up to his name to take the non-black type stakes by a nose.

Awesomer ($7.40), with Rene Lopez aboard, covered the 300-yard distance in 15.497 to earn a 93 speed index. He is trained by Reed Nelson for owners Robert Dahle and Jill Dahle. Jim and Donna O’Neal bred the 4-year-old gelding n Oklahoma, out of the Dashin Is Easy mare Jado Dashin.

Awesomer, a son of Volcom, broke his maiden in his third lifetime start last week before returning to the winner’s circle on Saturday. Eligibility for the maiden frolic depended on maiden status as of January 1, 2017. Awesomer’s previous career starts had been as a 3-year-old at Will Rogers and Remington Park.

A nose behind Awesome was Country Fly Boy and Juan Rameriz for trainer David Greene and owner Lara Skelley. Country Fly Boy is an 8-year-old gelding who returned the track earlier this summer for the first time since 2012; he has won half of his starts since his return to racing.

Country Fly Boy is by Country Chicks Man, out of Make It Fly by Make it Anywhere, bred in Oklahoma by Larry Collins.

The post-time favorite, Cartels Jubalee, was close throughout the race but was beaten by a nose by Country Fly Boy. Cartels Jubalee, still a maiden, has hit the board in seven of his 11 career starts and was second in the Pocatello Maiden Challenge earlier this year.

Cartels Jubalee is trained by Mark Hanson for Rtm Stables and Shauna Dunn; Never Marin was aboard for the first time. Bred in Oklahoma by Terry & Irene Stennett, the 3-year-old gelding is by Corona Cartel and is out of the First Down Dash mare Cherry Jubalee.

Southern Dame trailed the field to finish fourth for trainer David Greene and jockey Kylie Schoonover. Owner and breeder A. J. Renner bred the 4-year-old filly in Texas by Brimmerton, out of French Dame by On a High.