Jes Relentless, piloted by Brian Barraza, scores upset in Saturday’s $27,800 Mike Hastings Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ—DECEMBER 27, 2025—Jes Relentless blew away the competition scoring the first stakes victory of her career on Saturday afternoon with gate-to-wire upset in the $27,800 Mike Hastings Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise.

The 350-yard dash for fillies and mares three and up was hand-timed due to a timing malfunction, but the result was never in doubt as the bay filly crossed the wire with daylight to spare, stopping the clock in 17.560 seconds, and earning a 95 speed index.

Breaking first from post six under jockey Brian Barraza, Jes Relentless immediately took control and widened her advantage through the stretch, drawing off to win by 2¼ lengths over post-time favorite Wicked Cowgirl Smart. The 15-1 upset returned $33.00 to win and earned her a $16,402 winner’s share.

Jes Relentless’s winning connections from the Mike Hastings Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise on Saturday. © Coady Media

Jes Relentless is owned by her trainer Heber Deyta-Melendez in partnership with Maria Deleon.The daughter of Hes Relentless is out of Jes All That by Corona Cartel.

Bred in Louisiana by Eddie Cramer along with Tom or Bill Maher, she originally sold for $24,000 at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale before changing hands to her current owners for $19,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. Saturday’s victory was the fourth of her career from 16 starts.

Wicked Cowgirl Smart was all business as the post-time favorite, but she was just no match for the winner, placed second under jockey Keven Carbajal. The four-year-old filly earned $5,282 for the runner-up effort, finishing a neck clear of third. Bred and owned by J Lazy Six Racing, the daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Df I Aint Jo Wagon and was trained by David Williams.

Already a multiple stakes winner, Wicked Cowgirl Smart was coming off a victory in the Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes and previously captured the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby and Fred Scane Stakes during her freshman campaign. Her record now shows 8 wins, 5 seconds, and 2 thirds from 18 starts with total earnings of $149,945.

Milagro Lady rallied from the outside under jockey Jayden Ironeyes to finish third, another neck back, earning $2,502. Kasey Kemper trains the five-year-old daughter of Rite Favorite for owner Neale Edwards. Bred in New Mexico by R. Stratton and S. and N. Edwards, she is out of the Jesse James Jr mare Ping Pong Patty.

Already a three-time stakes winner, she added another stakes placing to a season that has included victories in the Pen Pal Stakes and the Miss Quick Stakes. From 33 starts, she has compiled 7 wins, 6 seconds, and 5 thirds, with total earnings of $225,788.

Basking finished fourth after making a bid but flattening late, followed by Kisss N Run in fifth. Just Shazoomen checked in sixth, while Angel Soul and Rockin Jo Kool dead-heated for seventh. Wakanda Reason M3 finished ninth, and Tijera Dynasty completed the order of finish in tenth.

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