In The Vee will headline the Young Ford/Wyoming Downs Derby on Saturday.

© Coady Media

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 30, 2026–The spotlight will shine on Wyoming Downs Saturday afternoon as the track presents a nine-race program beginning at 1:05 p.m., highlighted by the $109,200 Young Ford/Wyoming Downs Derby. The featured finale will bring together the ten fastest 3-year-olds from the July 17 trial heats, with the talented sophomores set to battle 400 yards in the third race at approximately 1:55 p.m.

In the Vee, the 7-2 morning-line favorite, leads the field after posting the fastest qualifying time in the trials. The gelding delivered a dominant gate-to-wire performance, drawing away to win by 1 ¾ lengths. He has enjoyed an outstanding season, making five starts with three victories and a runner-up finish in the 307HR Wyoming Bred Derby. Already an eight-time career winner, In the Vee has banked $178,661 for owner Eddie Jensen.

Bred in Wyoming by Dan and Kim Lapierre, In the Vee is by Junior June Bug and out of the Brindis Por Cayenne mare Brindis Secret. Trainer Jess R. Matt will send the accomplished gelding from post two, with Jacob Cardenas retaining the mount.

Eddie Jensen also enters Mv Goldheart Foose, the 4-1 second choice on the morning line. The filly secured her place in the final with a determined neck victory in her trial, leading every step and posting the second-fastest qualifying time. She has made five starts this season, with two wins and a second, including a victory in the Listed Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial Derby.

The lightly raced filly has three wins and three runner-up finishes in ten lifetime starts, earning $24,232. Bred in Idaho by owners Eddie and Andrea Jensen, she is by Gold Heart Eagle V and out of the Foose mare Royal Fooseperrypie. Trainer Tony Hyde will saddle the filly, who will break from post four, with David Alvarez, Jr. returning aboard.

Saturday's card promises an exciting afternoon of Quarter Horse racing, highlighted by the Young Ford/Wyoming Downs Derby. The state's top sophomore runners have already proven themselves in the trials, and with more than $109,000 on the line, fans can expect a highly competitive showdown as Wyoming's best 3-year-olds battle for one of the season's premier derby titles.

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