Hayleys Eagle and jockey Adrian Morales hold off Ronda Rowsey to win the $37,150 Lucille Rowe Derby on July 5 at Arapahoe Park.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

AURORA, CO–JULY 5, 2026–Making her first start of the season, Hayleys Eagle returned in winning fashion on Sunday, holding off a late challenge from Ronda Rowsey to capture the $37,150 Lucille Rowe Derby at Arapahoe Park.

Ridden by Adrian Morales, Hayleys Eagle showed good early speed and lasted by a neck at the wire, covering 350 yards in :17.822 and earning a 97 speed index. The bay filly collected the $22,290 winner's share of the purse.

Owned by Omar Ramirez and Lionel Marquez Gandara and trained by Jose Lionel Marquez, Hayleys Eagle was bred by Bill and Marsha Drake. The Colorado-bred filly is sired by This Is An Eagle and out of the Ivory James mare Im Hayley Two.

The victory was her first stakes score and improved her record to 7-2-3-0 while increasing her earnings to $33,094. At two, she was a finalist in the Cherry Creek Futurity.

The winning connections of Hayleys Eagle. © Coady Media

Ronda Rowsey closed strongly to finish second under Mauro Rodriguez after overcoming a slow start and earning a 96 speed index in :17.871.

Owned and bred by George Seward and trained by Fernando Manriquez, the filly was a $50,000 repurchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She is by champion Favorite Cartel and out of the winning Apollitical Jess mare Ms Jess Knockout, a full sister to champion As And Js ($531,134).

Already a multiple stakes winner, Ronda Rowsey now holds a record of 13-3-3-2 with earnings of $71,128. Her record includes victories in last year's Mile High Futurity and Cherry Creek Futurity.

Pairadice City finished third under Alonso Rivera in just her second career start. The filly races for owner Dr. Susan Raymond, DVM, and trainer Bo Delavan. Bred by H & E Ranch Inc., she is by PYC Paint Your Wagon and out of the Shackleford mare Digestif. Pairadice City completed the 350 yards in :18.013 and earned a 92 speed index.

Queen Divinity finished fourth and was followed by Tellem Itsa Shutout and Cyber Wakanda. Stone Eyez and Ur A Political were scratched.

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