Cartels Speedo, under jockey Oscar Villa, won the $55,000 Elko Intermountain Futurity on Monday afternoon at the Elko County Fair.

© Kira Jo Samargis

By StallioneSearch

ELKO, NV—SEPTEMBER 1, 2025—Cartels Speedo surged late to capture the $55,000 Elko Intermountain Futurity on Monday afternoon at the Elko County Fair, covering 350 yards in 17.556 seconds and earning a 103 speed index.

Under a well-timed ride by Oscar Villa and trained by Jere Brinkerhoff, the two-year-old sorrel gelding by Iba Cartel out of String a Game by Dealagame powered through the stretch to win by a neck.

Bred and owned by Merlin F. Sharp of Idaho, Cartel's Speedo earned $22,000 for the victory and returned $20.40 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.20 to show. Already winner of the Bitterroot Juvenile in July, the gelding has earned nearly $30,000.

M E Kool Carter finished a game second. The bay gelding, by Carters Cartel out of Kool Sweet Jess by One Sweet Jess, rallied strongly on the outside under jockey Eric Ayala but could not reel in the winner late.

Trained by Jarrett Mills for owners Dave Merritt and Kim Newman, the Idaho-bred earned $11,000 for his runner-up finish and paid $4.80 to place and $7.80 to show.

Mommas Cartel, the post-time favorite, settled for third after breaking sharply and setting the early pace before tiring late. The brown filly, by leading sire Favorite Cartel out of Mommas Dynasty by FDD Dynasty, was ridden by jockey David Alvarez Jr. for trainer Farrol Cunningham. Bred in Texas by Edward J. and Von Zae McNelis and owned by Edward J. McNelis, she collected $5,500 and paid $5.40 to show.

Rounding out the order of finish were Heavenly Storm in fourth, followed by Secret of the Conn, Redmann, Tempted to Send, and Ec Stryker.

The race was contested over a fast track with no wind and a temperature of 90 degrees.

Editor's Note: A photo of the winner will be posted with this story when it becomes available from the track photographer.

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