Flashing Lights led all qualifiers after winning the second and final trial in :17.594 for a 97 speed index.

© Weber Downs

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

OGDEN, UT–MAY 9, 2026– Two trial heats were contested Saturday at Weber Downs to determine the finalists for the $24,038 Golden Spike Derby, with the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the May 30 final at the Utah racetrack.

Flashing Lights led all qualifiers after winning the second and final trial in :17.594 for a 97 speed index.

The three-year-old filly was bred by Paris Wixon and is owned and trained by Giovanni Ortiz with Minor Arana aboard. Sired by The Marfa Lights and out of the Teller Cartel mare Cara Cara, Flashing Lights used a strong late rally to secure the fastest qualifying mark of the afternoon.

Still searching for her first stakes victory, the filly previously finished third in the Beehive Futurity. With the trial victory, she improved her career record to 8 starts with a 2-0-3 mark and earnings of $24,370. Equibase chart notes credited the filly with a “late effort for win” in the half-length victory.

Second fastest qualifier Innocent Down Perry finished second behind Flashing Lights while stopping the clock in :17.665 for a 95 speed index.

The filly was bred by Grant Farms LLC and is owned by Dewey Kendrick III, trained by Joe M. Davis, and ridden by Julian Zavala. A $17,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate, Innocent Down Perry is sired by Hes Innocent and out of the stakes-winning Coronas Leaving You mare Corona Down Perry.

Her female family is packed with blacktype, as Corona Down Perry is a full sister to stakes winner Second Down Leaving ($188,859) and a half-sister to Runaway Second Down ($432,076). The pedigree traces back to champion Royal Down Dash ($405,384) and AQHA Broodmare of the Year Timeto Takeoff ($17,736).

A finalist in the Energy Downs Futurity, Innocent Down Perry now owns a career record of 13-2-2-4 with earnings of $29,796 following her runner-up effort in the trials.

Hez Gifted secured the third-fastest qualifying mark after finishing third in the same trial while recording a :17.759 clocking and 92 speed index.

Bred and owned by Michael K. McKell, the gelding is trained by Sergio Canales and was ridden by Jesus J. Canales. The son of Genetically Gifted is out of the Kiddy Up mare Girl Like, a stakes-placed runner.

Hez Gifted entered the trials with an established résumé, including fourth-place finishes in both the Wyoming Downs Futurity and the Beehive Futurity. Following Saturday’s effort, he now sports a career record of 10-4-2-1 with earnings of $44,161.

VIEW FULL LIST OF QUALIFIERS HERE.

*Photo will be posted when available.

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