M E Closing Time, ridden by Eric Ayala, wins the Idaho Bred Overnight Derby at Oneida County Fair on Sunday.

© Oneida County Fair

By Leann Noguera/StallioneSearch

MALAD CITY, ID–AUGUST 3, 2025–After knocking on the door all season, M E Closing Time kicked it down on Sunday afternoon at the Oneida County Fair, surging to a 3/4-length victory in the $11,500 Idaho Bred Overnight Derby (not black type).

With Eric Ayala aboard, M E Closing Time covered the 300-yard distance in 15.198 seconds, earning a 106 speed index despite running into an 8 mph crosswind on a fast track.

Trained by Jarrett Mills, M E Closing Time entered the race with a consistent résumé but no stakes win—until now. The Idaho-bred filly had finished second or third in three stakes this year, including the Bitterroot Derby, Five Livestock Company/Rod Mills Memorial Derby, and Idaho Cup Derby.

As a 2-year-old, she was a finalist in both the Grade 3 Wild West Futurity and the Grade 3 Bitterroot Futurity. With Sunday’s win, she earned $5,980, boosting her career bankroll to $34,747 from 18 starts, with a record of 3 wins, 6 seconds, and 5 thirds.

Owned and bred by Dave Merritt and Kim Newman, the daughter of Ec Jet One is out of Kool Sweet Jess, by One Sweet Jess.

Finishing second by three-quarters of a length was Paint Me Mo Famous, who put in a late run under Oscar Villa for owner Eduardo Robles and trainer Ramiro Fregoso. The bay filly, bred in Idaho by Cameron and Leanne Mulrony, is by Paint Me Perry and out of Mo Famous Advice, by Best Advice.

Third place went to Ma Pistol Man, a sorrel gelding who had a clean trip from the outside post with Luis Delgado in the irons for owner/trainer Edgar Juarez. By Concorde’s Appeal-TB, Ma Pistol Man is out of Krystal Ball, by Ivory James, and was bred in Idaho by Lazaro Arreola.

The remaining order of finish is Re Vichingo, 3 Js Jess One and Tic Tac Attack.

Editor's note: A photo of this race will be posted with this article as soon as it is available from the track photographer.

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