Wera C, under jockey Jonathan Dominguez, posted the fastest time for the 2026 $47,984 Speedhorse Derby on Thursday night at Fair Meadows Race Course.

© Jack Coady Photography

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

TULSA, OK–JULY 2, 2026–Last year's Oklahoma Juvenile winner Wera C, a daughter of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123, stamped herself as the one to beat for the July 18 $47,984 Speedhorse Derby after posting the fastest qualifying time from two 350-yard trials contested Thursday evening at Fair Meadows.

Owned by CH Horse Racing, LLC, Wera C stopped the clock in 17.517 while earning a 102 speed index, the quickest of the night, after cruising to a 1½-length victory over I Am A Candy Tree in the second of two trials.

The Marco Adair Chavez-Gutierrez trainee broke outward at the start, quickly showed her speed, and drew away through the stretch under jockey Jonathan Dominguez. She picked up her fourth career win in 10 starts and boosted her earnings to more than $180,000. She entered the trials off a second-place finish in the Grade 2 Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park on May 30.  She was also third in the Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity last year.

Bred in Texas by Ellis H. Hank Bird, Wera C is a 3-year-old filly by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the One Dashing Eagle mare Pillow Talk. She was a $50,000 RNA at the 2026 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

The second-fastest qualifier was Fasterthanmybrothers, who captured the first trial in 17.779, earning a 93 speed index. The son of champion Tempting Dash dueled throughout before responding gamely in the final strides to prevail by a nose over Xpressiv under Erik N. Esqueda.

The Kerry Ellis trainee races for Jose J. Espinoza and was bred in Texas by Kirk M. Goodfellow. Out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Dashingfordestiny. The two-time winner from four starts was making his 2026 season debut in the trials and has earned $16,144.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of Speedhorse Derby finalists with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

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