Uncle Redheads Tops Altoona Derby Trials

Three trials were held for the $145,000 Altoona Derby at Prairie Meadows on Sept. 7, with Uncle Redheads posting the fastest qualifying time.

Uncle Redheads won the opening 400-yard trial under Armando Alvidrez, holding off a fast-closing Margarets Cowboy by a head in :20.072. Trained by Jason Olmstead for Cavenaugh Quarter Horses LLC, the gelding was bred by Charles and Elizabeth Horton. He is by Uncle D and out of the One Sweet Jess mare Redheads Run Hotter.

Uncle Redheads improved his record to 17-9-4-2 with earnings of $262,695. He entered the trials off a third-place finish in the Canterbury Park Derby. Earlier this season, he won the Mr Master Bug Stakes (G3) and finished second in the Jack Brooks Stakes (G3). Last year, he won the Valley Junction Futurity (G3).

Margarets Cowboy finished second behind Uncle Redheads to post the second-fastest qualifying time of :20.093 under Miguel Ramirez. Trained by John Hammes, the gelding is a homebred for Bradbury Racing and Hammes. He is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the PYC Paint Your Wagon mare Now Margaret.

Coming into the trials off a victory in the Prairie Meadows Derby Challenge, Margarets Cowboy has a record of 15-3-2-4 with earnings of $109,037. Last year, he won the Prairie Meadows Juvenile Challenge Stakes and finished third in the AQHA Juvenile Challenge Championship Stakes (G2).

Atsi Monday won the final trial under Armando Alvidrez, drawing away to score by 1 1/2 lengths in :20.142 and post the third-fastest qualifying time. A homebred for Brenda Reiswig, the Jason Olmstead trainee is by Cyber Monday and out of the Valiant Hero mare Atsi Hero.

Still in search of her first stakes victory, Atsi Monday has a record of 13-5-1-3 with earnings of $111,024. She was a finalist in the Prairie Meadows Gold Derby in July and finished second in last year's Valley Junction Futurity (G3).

The $145,000 Altoona Derby final is set for Sept. 25 at Prairie Meadows.