Uncle Willard, ridden by Richard Birdrattlers, wins the State Fair Quarter Horse Stakes (not black type) at Great Fall on Saturday.

© Kira Jo Samargis

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

GREAT FALLS, MT–JULY 12, 2025–Uncle Willard surged to a breakout performance in Saturday’s $7,800 State Fair Quarter Horse Stakes (not black type) at Great Falls, capturing the featured 300-yard dash for three-year-olds and up in wire-to-wire fashion.

The Tryston Matt trainee stopped the clock in 15.185 seconds, earning a 111 speed index, with the assistance of a 12 mph tailwind. The effort paid $8.40 for the win on a $2.00 wager.

The race marked a maiden-breaking victory for Uncle Willard, who was making his fourth career start and had previously run at Ruidoso Downs and Los Alamitos. As a two-year-old in 2024, he made his debut in the Ruidoso Futurity trials but did not advance. In 2025, he returned to action at Los Alamitos, where he finished second in a maiden start and later ran fifth in a trial to the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes.

The State Fair QH Stakes marked a breakthrough for the lightly raced three-year-old gelding, as Uncle Willard broke best from post two and drew off confidently to win by one length under jockey Richard Birdrattler. The win was worth $4,290 to his connections.

The performance came within striking distance of a long-standing record. Uncle Willard’s final time of 15.185 seconds was just 0.030 seconds off the Great Falls track record of 15.150 seconds, which Mnv Pack And Dash set on July 11, 1999.

Bred and owned by Ralph G. Young of Montana, Uncle Willard is sired by leading sophomore sire Uncle D and out of Jessflipacoin by Jess My Moon.

Finishing second was Milagro Lady, a five-year-old sorrel mare by Rite Favorite. Owned by Neale Edwards and trained by Kayla Warren, the veteran mare showed her class by breaking alertly from the inside post and keeping pace with the leader early before settling for the place spot, beaten three-quarters of a length.

Ridden by Jarred Journet, Milagro Lady added $1,716 to her impressive career earnings of over $211,000. She is a five-time winner, including a prior score in the New Mexico Fillies & Mares Championship-G1. Bred in New Mexico by R. Stratton and S. & N. Edwards, she is out of Ping Pong Patty by Jesse James Jr.

Rounding out the trifecta was Uncommon Soldier, who broke outward from the four hole and raced wide throughout, but gained late to secure third. His share of the purse was $1,170, boosting his career total to over $22,000.

A four-year-old chestnut gelding by Favorite Soldier, Uncommon Soldier, is out of Sis Tar by Fastnfierce. He is bred and owned by Clifton G. Dennis of Montana, who also conditions the gelding and was guided by Jossiah Bad Bear.

Completing the order of finish in fourth was She Wears The Pantz, a six-year-old mare by Separate Interest, bred in California by Fred Scane. She was ridden by Corrine Andros and is trained by Harold Wippert, Jr. for owner Calvin Crosschild. The veteran mare, who drifted out at the start, could not maintain her early position and finished last in the field of four. She brought a respectable record into the race, with four wins, five seconds, and a third from 25 starts, and over $37,000 in earnings.

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