Surfinoverthemoon and jockey Jacob Cardenas posted the fastest qualifying time for the $24,500-added KC Carden Wyoming Bred Derby on Friday at Wyoming Downs, winning the opening trial in 17.543 seconds.

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By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 10, 2026–Five trials were contested Friday at Wyoming Downs for the $24,500-added KC Carden Wyoming Bred Derby, with Wyoming-bred 3-year-olds racing 350 yards in pursuit of a berth in the July 25 final. Surfinoverthemoon emerged as the fastest qualifier after posting the top time of 17.543 seconds and earning a 96 speed index.

Ridden by Jacob Cardenas, Surfinoverthemoon rallied from just off the pace and got the edge late to defeat Kcross Lever Action by three-quarters of a length in the opening trial. Trained by Jess Matt for owner Lana Matt, the gelding was bred by Walter Larson and is sired by Corona Surfer out of the Apollo TB mare Dashmetothemoon.

He improved his record to 13-4-4-3 with earnings of $57,746. The brown gelding entered the trials off a third-place finish in the 307 Horse Racing Wyoming Bred Derby and was also third in the Dan Lockie Derby in May.

Flying Rocco secured the second-fastest qualifying mark after leading throughout the fifth and final trial under Cesar Moreno. The Uriel Lucero Dominguez trainee stopped the clock in 17.622 seconds, earning a 93 speed index while holding off Miss Pollys Train by a neck.

A homebred for owner-breeder J.P. Sample, the gelding is by champion Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Looking For Chicks mare This Chicks A Queen. He now owns a record of 11-5-1-1 with earnings of $75,592. Flying Rocco entered the trials off a fourth-place finish in the 307 Horse Racing Wyoming Bred Derby and was runner-up in last year's Wyoming Bred Futurity.

Rageous Paint posted the third-fastest qualifying time of 17.639 seconds and earned a 93 speed index with a strong driving finish in the fourth trial. Ridden by Jose Juan Olivo, the gelding defeated Mv Paint Me Jess by a neck, with Fly The Flag another neck back in third.

Trained by Kylie Valenzuela for owner Chris Nebeker, Rageous Paint was bred by Ron and Laurie Moosman and is by Jess Paint Me out of the Jr Dynasty Mountain mare Outrageous Dynasty. He now sports a record of 8-2-2-1 and earnings of $16,120.

The ten fastest qualifiers will return to Wyoming Downs on July 25 for the running of the KC Carden Wyoming Bred Derby Final.

VIEW FULL LIST OF QUALIFIERS HERE.

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