Cordarelton Benn guided Rays Lane to the win in the $30,780 Rock Springs Wyoming Bred Maturity at Sweetwater Downs on Saturday

© Gene Wilson and Associates

ROCK SPRINGS, WY–OCTOBER 1, 2022–Rays Lanes sweeps the $30,780 Rock Springs Wyoming Bred Maturity at Sweetwater Downs for an upset victory over Bigg Brown and Blazin Mr Jess. 

Rays Lane, guided by Cordarelton Benn, leads the pack from wire-to-wire crossing the finish line first in :19.839 seconds with a 101 speed index. The longshot victory was nearly 10-1 odds at the post and paid $23.20 for the win.

The Rock Springs Maturity is only the second stakes win for Rays Lane, who won the Rock Springs Futurity during his two-year-old campaign in 2019. With 7 career wins, the $12,312 winner’s share ups the son of Conn Creek’s earnings to $52,573 for owners Shannon Demier and Renegade Racing.

Bred by the late Ron Moosman and his wife Laurie of Wyoming, Rays Lane sold for $4,500 in the 2018 Wyoming Mixed Sale. The five-year-old gelding is out of A Dash Of Steffi by A Dash Of Beduino.

Multiple stakes winner Bigg Brown, ridden by Uriel Dominguez, pulled a late effort for second, crossing the wire only a nose ahead of post-time favorite Blazin Mr Jess. The son of Choctaw River has lit the board 18 of 19 starts with 11 career wins and $88,125 in earnings, including the Gillette Open Maturity in June at Energy Downs.

Trainer Uriel Dominguez, Sr saddled Bigg Brown for owners/breeders Kim and Dan Lapierre. The 4-year-old Wyoming bred gelding is out of Purrfect Eve by Devon Lane.

Riley Moosman conditioned Blazin Mr Jess, who was favored to win the Maturity but just missed for a third place finish. The three-time stakes winning  daughter of Dashin Mr Jess has a race record of 7-3-1 from 13 starts with $63,123 in the bank. Bred and owned by Pedro Mena, the four-year-old filly is out of Blazin Mean by First Moonflash.

Completing the field is Docs Fast Kick, Prit Pro, Tom Big Shooter, Brindis Cruz, Cd Proud Flyin D Was, Pistol Grip and A Toast To Brindis.
 

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The 12th season of live horse racing begins Saturday Aug. 21, and extends through Sunday October 2. Gates open at noon on Saturdays and Sundays with post times set for 1 p.m. Races will also be held on Friday, September 9, and Friday, September 16. Post times for both Fridays is 4 p.m.

Race fans unable to attend live racing in person can place bets at any Horse Palace location and enjoy the latest game additions where a nearly $800,000 jackpot was recently won. The nine locations include two in Casper, two in Cheyenne and one in Evanston, Gillette, Green River, Rock Springs and Sheridan.

The Sweetwater Events Complex is located at 3320 Yellowstone Road in Rock Springs. Tickets cost $5 per person. For more information on live racing at Sweetwater Downs, visit: wyominghorseracingdata.com.

Wyoming Horse Racing, proud sponsor of Sweetwater Downs races, is committed to a responsible approach, fresh focus, a dedication to horse racing and a previously unheard-of level of investment to the hospitality and agri-business sectors in Wyoming.