Cash Back Hero successfully defended his title in the $45,000 Covered Bridges Stakes (G3) on Saturday at Prairie Meadows, scoring his second consecutive victory in the 870-yard event.

Ridden by Angel Ramirez, Cash Back Hero broke from the rail and moved up to take command before drawing clear. The heavily favored gelding held firm through the stretch to win by one length in :45.571, earning a 99 speed index.

Edward Hardy trains the 4-year-old for owners Becky and Warren Johnson. Bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch LLC, Cash Back Hero is sired by Valiant Hero and out of the Furyofthewind mare Pops Zoomin Fury. He now has a record of 18-6-3-1 with earnings of $117,257.

Cash Back Hero also won the Covered Bridges Stakes (G3) last year. Earlier this season, he finished third in the Pauls Valley Stakes (G2) and fifth in the Remington Park Distance Championship (G1).

Rnc Cardshark Jones finished second under Ramiro Garcia for owners Jane and Jim Leatherberry and trainer Robert Johnson. After setting the early pace, the 8-year-old was headed by Cash Back Hero but continued gamely to the wire, stopping the clock in :45.712. Bred by David Strain, Rnc Cardshark Jones is sired by The Card Shark 229 and out of the Seneca Jones mare Dakota Jones. He now has a record of 38-16-9-6 with earnings of $164,411. A two-time winner of the Covered Bridges Stakes, he captured the race in both 2023 and 2024.

Cartel Can Fly rallied from the back of the field to finish third under Kody Kellenberger for owner and breeder David Wisdom and trainer Robert Johnson. The 5-year-old gelding made a three-wide stretch bid and finished another length back in :45.864. Sired by Favorite Cartel and out of the Foose mare Babe Can Fly, Cartel Can Fly now has a record of 15-5-1-5 with earnings of $53,838. He most recently finished third in the Wyoming Downs Distance Challenge and won the United Tote Hook Overnight Stakes earlier this season.

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Pj Dynasty finished fourth, followed by P Fifty One, Kool Man Kenny and Euro Special Lady.

Hes Innocent continued his strong second-crop season Wednesday when his daughter Shesainnocentpiloto posted the fastest qualifying time from six trials for the $266,250 BOCO Futurity at Sandy Ridge.

Shesainnocentpiloto won the fourth trial by a half-length in :17.645, earning a 106 speed index while recording her third consecutive victory. Bred in Louisiana by Grant Farms LLC, she is out of the Mr Piloto mare Famous Flying Piloto.

The victory improved Shesainnocentpiloto's record to three wins and one second from five starts with earnings of $41,820. She will return for the $266,250 BOCO Futurity final on Sept. 6.

Her performance adds to a growing list of stakes success this season for Hes Innocent. Earlier this month, Er Innocent Party captured the $211,800 Ron Cook Accredited Wyoming Bred Futurity on Aug. 8 at Wyoming Downs.

The victory was worth $97,428 and increased Er Innocent Party's career earnings to $124,850 from four starts. He has won three of those starts and finished third in the 307HR Wyoming Bred Futurity.

Other stakes performers this season include Innocent Down Perry SI 101 ($35,334), who finished third in the Golden Spike Derby; Hes Pullin Gs ($13,545), who placed third in both the Bitterroot Derby and Idaho Bred Derby; and Shezinnocent SI 95 ($40,048), a finalist in the Flashy Hemp Stakes.

The recent success has helped Hes Innocent climb to #4 among the nation's leading second-year sires by earnings. A multiple stakes sire from his first two crops to race, his runners are averaging nearly $14,000 per starter.

Hes Innocent's numbers are even stronger by win percentage. He currently ranks as the #1 leading 2-year-old sire by win percentage, with 14 winners from 29 starters for a 48% win rate, and the #1 leading second-year sire by win percentage, with 19 winners from 37 starters for a 51% win rate.

Hes Innocent stands at Louisiana Center for Equine Reproduction.

For breeding information, contact Stephen Deville, Breeding Manager, at 225-202-2104 or the farm office at 337-407-0708. Visit www.laequine.com or email laceroffice@gmail.com.

Shakers No Secret added another graded stakes victory to his record Friday night with a determined win in the $58,718 AQHA Retama Park Championship Challenge (G3).

Ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr., Shakers No Secret broke sharply from the outside before moving into second and taking command late. The six-year-old gelding drove clear to defeat Im A Pretty Mess by a half-length, completing 440 yards in :21.869 for a 104 speed index.

Shakers No Secret is owned by Abel Lopez, Ethan Lopez and Manny Dutchover and trained by Marc Jungers. Bred by Garlyn Shelton, the $14,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate is sired by Five Bar Cartel and out of the No Secrets Here mare Shaker Secret.

Coming off a victory in the King William Stakes (G3) in June, Shakers No Secret improved his record to 42-12-10-6. The $28,185 winner's share boosted his career earnings to $893,110.

The accomplished gelding's stakes record also includes victories in the Championship at Sunland Park (G1), AQHA Challenge Championship Stakes (G1) and West Texas Maturity (G3).

Im A Pretty Mess finished second under J.R. Ramirez Jr. The three-year-old filly broke sixth but quickly surged to the front and led into the final stages before being overtaken by Shakers No Secret. She completed the distance in :21.963 for a 102 speed index.

Owned by SLC Racing LLC and trained by Shae Cox, Im A Pretty Mess was bred by Joshua Henderson and is a $24,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate. She is sired by Tarzanito and out of the One Famous Eagle mare Eagle Diva. Her female family includes Dam of Distinction Jess Sass Me ($110,503) and champions Jess Walking Thru ($447,266) and Sass Me Blue ($296,378).

Im A Pretty Mess now has a record of 6-2-1-1 with earnings of $35,504.

Eagles Up crossed the wire in third under Luis Vivanco. The four-year-old colt raced fifth early before making a bid and improving to third, finishing in :22.069 for a 98 speed index.

Owned and bred by Jumonville Farms and trained by Marc Jungers, Eagles Up sold for $32,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale before later bringing $75,000 at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. He is sired by champion One Famous Eagle and out of the winning Walk Thru Fire mare U R Blue.

Eagles Up is a half-brother to Mardi Gras Derby winner Jess U R Blue ($147,791), while his second dam is world champion and four-time champion Blues Girl Too ($2,032,328). He now has a record of 16-5-3-4 with earnings of $176,240.

Still seeking his first stakes victory, Eagles Up has placed in several major events, including runner-up honors in the EVD Futurity (G2) and third-place finishes in the EVD Derby and Sam Houston Derby (G3).

Dr Pepper 123 finished fourth, followed by Defours in fifth. Klass Action and Sightseeing Beauty dead-heated for sixth, followed by Apollitical Jackie.

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A field of 19 2-year-olds will compete in two 350-yard trials Sunday at Hipódromo de las Américas for the $81,148 Alfredo Castro Rea Classic, which includes a $15,000 contribution from Cuadra Santa Elena. The 10 fastest qualifiers will advance to the final on Sunday, September 20.

Race 4

Already Favorite, the 5-2 morning-line favorite from post two, races for Cuadra Los Chivos. The Favorite Cartel colt is out of Shes Already Famous, by Mr Jess Perry. Bred in the United States by Grant Farms LLC, he was a $30,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Already Favorite is trained by Carlos Alberto Jose Perez and will be ridden by Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo.

Already Favorite has compiled a record of one win, two seconds and one third from four starts and has earned approximately $23,704. He enters the trials off a runner-up finish in the August 9 Jody's Glory Classic, finishing a half-length behind Hard To Cowboy in :17.60 for 350 yards. He also placed second in The Prize Classic earlier this season.

Hard To Cowboy is the 3-1 second choice from the rail for Cuadra Bronco Rider. The Flying Cowboy 123 colt is out of Hardtoget, by Foose. Bred in the United States by Louis A. Malechek III, he was a $90,000 purchase at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Hard To Cowboy is trained by Cesar Garcia Serrano, and Arturo Vega Moreno will ride.

Hard To Cowboy has one win and one third from four starts with earnings of approximately $27,585. He comes into Sunday's trial following his victory in the August 9 Jody's Glory Classic, completing 350 yards in :17.55 and defeating Already Favorite by a half-length. He also placed fifth in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge.

Race 5

Flying Rose is the 5-2 morning-line favorite from post 10 for Cuadra Alpuyeca. The Flying Cowboy 123 filly is out of Corona Tea Rose, by Corona Cartel. Bred in the United States by Garlyn O. Shelton, she was a $15,000 purchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Flying Rose is trained by Antonio Garcia Carranza and will be ridden by Alejandro Gomez Lopez.

Flying Rose has one win, one second and one third from six starts and has earned approximately $11,842. She finished third in the August 9 Jody's Glory Classic, one length behind Hard To Cowboy in :17.65. She qualified for that final with a runner-up effort in her July 19 trial, completing 350 yards in :17.74, three-quarters of a length behind Cv Star Spirit.

Cv Star Spirit is the 3-1 second choice from post seven for Cuadra Ur. The Apollitical Spirit filly is out of One Famous Starlet, by One Famous Eagle. Bred in Mexico by Alberto Armendariz Rodriguez, she is trained by Jorge Arturo Sanchez Romero. Huberclein Gomez has the riding assignment.

Cv Star Spirit has won twice and finished second twice from six starts, earning approximately $8,358. She finished sixth in the August 9 Jody's Glory Classic after qualifying with a victory in her July 19 trial. Cv Star Spirit covered 350 yards in :17.64 that afternoon, defeating Flying Rose by three-quarters of a length.

The races at Hipodromo de las Americas can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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