Memorial Day racing fans are in for a packed afternoon of Quarter Horse excitement as Pocatello Downs prepares for an action-packed ten-race program on Monday, beginning at 1:00 PM.

© Pocatello Downs

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

POCATELLO, ID–MAY 23, 2026–Memorial Day racing fans are in for a packed afternoon of Quarter Horse excitement as Pocatello Downs prepares for an action-packed ten-race program on Monday, beginning at 1:00 PM. The holiday card features stakes finales, talented Idaho-Breds, rising juveniles, and the fan-favorite 2nd Annual Derby Dog Dash, sponsored by Visit Pocatello & Chubbuck, promising one of the most entertaining afternoons of the meet.

The afternoon’s biggest spotlight shines on the tenth and final race, the $68,100 Idaho Cup Futurity Finals, where the ten fastest qualifiers from the May 2nd trials return to battle at 300 yards. The juvenile field looks stacked with speed, but all eyes will center on Ojd Shez All Freight, the 6-5 morning-line favorite, who stamped herself as the one to beat with a dominant two-length trial victory and the fastest qualifying time, running wire-to-wire.

Owned and bred in Idaho by Karla and Oscar Diaz, the talented filly is by Tempting Dash and out of the Favorite Cartel mare Ojd One Favorite Jj. Javier Fuentes trains the speedy youngster, who breaks from post six. Fernando J. Olague returns to the irons, looking to guide her to futurity glory.

The excitement builds one race earlier in the ninth, the $38,900 Pocatello Downs Spring Classic Futurity Finals, where another talented group of juveniles will square off over 300 yards. Yr Bruno enters as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after an impressive trial, in which she pulled away from One Fast S by three-quarters of a length to secure the fastest qualifying time.

The Idaho homebred filly races for Wesley Pierson and is sired by Ivory James out of the Dash Ta Fame mare R Brown Sugar. Weston Smith conditions the filly, while Luis Cruz Ruiz returns aboard from post eight as they aim to cap off a strong trial effort with a stakes victory.

Race eight features the $22,400 Gary & Sherilyn Blattner Memorial (Listed), with ten talented three-year-olds dashing 350 yards in a highly competitive showdown. Slreasonwithattitude enters as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after a sharp gate-to-wire performance in the trials, securing the top qualifying mark.

The filly has now won two of four career starts, banking $7,100 for owner and trainer Sergio Leon. Bred in Oregon by Jamie and Martiniano Leon, the daughter of Good Candy P out of the Sixthirteen (TB) mare Lil Touch of Dixie has continued to improve with each start. Santiago Jimenez retains the mount from post six as the filly looks to add black-type credentials to her résumé.

The seventh race will spotlight the Idaho-bred sophomores in the $35,800 Idaho Cup Derby Finals at 350 yards. M E Kool Carter enters as the heavy 1-1 morning-line favorite after exploding from the gate in the final trial heat, winning by 1 ¾ lengths and posting the fastest qualifying time.

The gelding has quietly built a strong career, winning three of seven starts and earning $22,912 for breeders and owners Dave Merritt and Kim Newman. Sired by Carters Cartel and out of the One Sweet Jess mare Kool Sweet Jess, the talented sophomore will break from post six for trainer Jarrett Mills, with regular rider Eric Ayala returning aboard.

On the card earlier, the second race features the $24,600 Spring Classic Maiden Frolic Finals, with ten qualifiers returning after competing in the May 10th trial heats. Kvn Dulce Corona enters as the 3-1 morning-line favorite after finally breaking through for her maiden victory with an impressive 1 ½-length win in the opening trial.

The five-year-old mare has shown consistency throughout her career, with multiple on-the-board finishes and earnings of $6,900. Jose Pena owns the Colorado-bred daughter of Kvn Corona, out of Wess Country Chick by Country Chicks Man. Kylie Valenzuela trains the mare, who will break from post seven under Jose J. Olivo.

The third race of the afternoon features the $12,500 Idaho Cup Maturity Finals at 440 yards, where veteran Idaho-Breds will battle for supremacy. Rtm Ginsburg, making his first start of the season, enters as the 7-5 morning-line favorite.

The six-year-old gelding has built an impressive résumé, with seven career victories and earnings of more than $52,000 for RTM Stables, LLC. The son of First Moonflash out of Rtm Say Your Prayers has been training sharply ahead of his return, including a bullet workout on April 26th. Mark Hanson trains the seasoned gelding, who will break from the outside post with Jesus J. Canales aboard.

Along with the featured finals, races four through six will also feature consolation events, giving fans a full afternoon of competitive Quarter Horse racing from start to finish. With talented juveniles, seasoned stakes runners, Idaho-bred standouts, and the crowd-pleasing Derby Dog Dash, Memorial Day at Pocatello Downs promises an electric atmosphere as horsemen and women showcase the hard work and dedication it takes to reach racing’s biggest moments.

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