Separate Kisses, reidden by Oscar Villa, wins the $15,000 Five Livestock Company/Rod Mills Memorial Derby at Jerome County Fair on Sunday.

© Jerome County Fair

JEROME, ID–JUNE 16, 2024–The fastest qualifier from the trials, Separate Kisses, returns to win the $15,000 Five Livestock Company/Rod Mills Memorial Derby finals on Sunday. The heavy favorite won the 350-yard race at Jerome County Fair in namesake for her owner/breeder, Five Livestock Company LLC.

Jockey Oscar Villa piloted Separate Kisses to the wire in :17.721 seconds, clocking a 99 speed index. The daughter of Separatist crossed the wire in a photo finish with M E Ettago Relent, with Eric Ayala aboard, winning the nod by a nose. The first-place finish paid $4.60 on 4/1 odds.

Separate Kisses has six career wins from 12 starts, including the Malad Futurity in 2023. The $7,200 winner's share of the Derby purse increases her lifetime earnings to $22,461. The Ramiro Fregoso trained filly is out of Kiss A Kardashian by Jr Dynasty Mountain.

Jarrett Mills saddled runner-up M E Ettago Relent for owners/breeders Dave Merritt and Kim Newman. The seven-time stakes finalist has a record of 3-3-5 from 15 starts with $32,494 in the bank. The daughter of Hes Relentless is out of Ettago This by Favorite Cartel.

Jose Lopez piloted Carlo Rossi to his third-place finish. The son of Mr Piloto has hit the board seven of eight starts and earned $11,298 for owner/trainer Jose Pulido. Lee Rodgers and Raymond McGee bred Carlo Rossi out of Lynda With A Y by Snowbound.

Streakin Black Wes, M E Easy Jet This, Special Destroyer and Lc Iona Cartel complete the order of finish. Seattle Steel was scratched.