Sheza Fearless Eagle, under jockey Mauro Rodriguez, won the $55,520 Mile High Derby at Arapahoe Park Sunday afternoon.

© Coady Media

 By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

AURORA, CO—NOVEMBER 16, 2025—Sheza Fearless Eagle continued her impressive winning streak Sunday with a decisive victory in the $55,520 Mile High Derby at Arapahoe Park, covering 400 yards in 19.792 for a 100 speed index while racing into a 10-mph headwind.

The sorrel filly broke sharply under jockey Mauro Rodriguez and quickly separated herself from the field, powering home two lengths in front to earn the winner’s share of $22,208.

Bred in Colorado by Vaughn M. and Jill Cook, she is a daughter of One Fabulous Eagle out of Ima Fearless Fire, by Tres Seis, and races for owner Jill Cook.

Trained by Fernando Manriquez, the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale $16,000 repurchase has now won four consecutive races, including the Lucile Rowe Derby earlier this fall.  She has won eight of 15 career starts and earned $259,597.

Fancys Prize Corona finished second with a determined late run, gaining steadily through the final yards to secure the place spot by a neck. The gray filly is by Kvn Corona out of My First Prize Fancy, by Pyc Paint Your Wagon, and was bred in Oklahoma by Weetona Stanley.

The winning connections of Sheza Fearless Eagle accept the Mile High Derby stakes trophy. © Coady Media

Owned by Emanuel Yanez and also trained by Fernando Manriquez, she was ridden by Bryan Candanosa and earned $11,104 for her effort, further validating her strong trial form. She was purchased for $30,000 at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and has banked $47,602 in 17 career starts.

A rare dead heat for third occurred between Lethal D and Cotton Candy Sunset.

Lethal D, a gelding by second-crop sire champion Uncle D out of Lethal Eclipse, by Apollitical Jess, closed strongly to share the show position. Bred by Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC, he races for Barron Racing LLC and is trained by Jose Barron, with Martin Lazalde aboard.

The 2023 Heritage Place Yearling graduate earned $5,275 for his share of the third-place finish.

Cotton Candy Sunset, a sorrel gelding by One Famous Eagle out of The Divas Dynasty, by Corona Cartel, broke sharply from the rail and held well to the wire to finish on even terms.

Bred by Blaine S. Bateman, he races for Barron Racing LLC and Empire Racing and is trained by Jose Barron, ridden by Fernando Fonseca-Soto. Also a 2023 Heritage Place Yearling purchase, he brought $45,000 in the sale ring and added $5,275 to push his bankroll past $25,000.

Sheza Fearless Eagle returned $2.80 to win, $2.60 to place, and $2.60 to show. Fancys Prize Corona paid $4.20 to place and $3.40 to show. Cotton Candy Sunset returned $3.60 to show, and Lethal D paid $3.80 to show.

Aj Favorite Ok, Access Granted, Unbridled Favor, Paramounte Wagon Jr, and Glittr Factory completed the field.

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