Friday afternoon at Wyoming Downs features a 10-race program beginning at 3:00 p.m., highlighted by the KC Carden Accredited Wyoming Bred Derby Trials.

© Wyoming Downs

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

EVANSTON, WY–JULY 9, 2026–Friday afternoon at Wyoming Downs features a 10-race program beginning at 3:00 p.m., highlighted by the KC Carden Accredited Wyoming Bred Derby Trials. Forty-two Wyoming-bred 3-year-olds will compete in five trial heats, races two through six, each running 350 yards in pursuit of one of the ten fastest qualifying times for the $24,500-added KC Carden Wyoming Bred Derby Finals on July 25.

The afternoon not only showcases the state's top sophomore runners but also honors the memory of one of Wyoming racing's most respected horsemen. The late K.C. Carden's impact on the sport endures throughout the region, making the annual derby trials a fitting tribute to his lasting legacy.

Trainer Jess R. Matt enters five sophomores in the five trial heats, led by Mv Paint Me Jess, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the fourth trial, the fifth race. The gelding has made three starts in his derby campaign, qualifying for the Dan Lockie Derby and finishing a determined third in the 307HR Wyoming Bred Derby after being bumped at the start and rallying late. As a 2-year-old, he captured the 2025 Ron Cook Accredited Wyoming Bred Futurity. In 10 career starts, he has compiled three wins, one second, and three third-place finishes, earning $126,826 for owner Eddie Jensen.

The son of Jess Paint Me is out of the Separatist mare Separate Encounter and was bred in Wyoming by Ron and Laurie Moosman. Matt will saddle the gelding from post nine, with jockey Jacob Cardenas aboard.

Matt's stable will also be represented by Surfinoverthemoon, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the opening trial, the second race. The gelding has made four starts this season, qualifying for both the Dan Lockie Derby and the 307HR Wyoming Bred Derby, and finishing third in each final. He has a consistent record of three wins, four seconds, and three thirds, and has banked $54,446 for owner Lana Matt.

The son of Corona Surfer is out of the Apollo (TB) mare Dashmetothemoon and was bred in Wyoming by Walter Larson. He will break from post six, with Jacob Cardenas in the saddle.

The remaining three trial heats are expected to be just as competitive as 42 Wyoming-bred sophomores chase a coveted spot in the July 25 final. With every fraction of a second at stake, each trial promises intense competition as the state's best young runners battle for a place in the championship.

The race is named in honor of K.C. Carden, who passed away on February 13, 2018, after a battle with cancer. During his 19-year training career, Carden saddled 515 winners from 3,673 starters, and his runners earned more than $4.6 million. His stable included champions Winalota Cash, Toast To Dash, and Kool Kue Baby. As an owner, he recorded 44 victories and earnings of $817,927 from 304 starters, led by multiple graded stakes winner Brindis Por Cayenne.

Beyond the statistics, K.C. Carden is remembered for the example he set every day on the backside. Horsemen knew him as a kind, humble, and quick-witted gentleman, and his smile was as familiar as his success. Friday's derby trials celebrate not only Wyoming's rising stars but also the enduring legacy of a horseman whose contributions to the sport continue to inspire those who knew him.

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