PHOENIX, AZ—APRIL 6 2019—Favorite Latin Lover posted the fastest time on Saturday for the Desert Classic Futurity at Turf Paradise, however trainer Matthew Fales saddled five of 10 fastest qualifiers from second thru sixth.

Making his first career start for owner-trainer Armando Castellanos Favorite Latin Lover bumped early under jockey Martin Osuna but dueled Old School Icon to take a neck lead at the wire. The bay gelding stopped the clock in :15.677 seconds, a 90 speed index into a 14 mph headwind, to set the top qualifying mark in the second of two trial races contested.

A $10,000 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale graduate, Favorite Latin Lover is by multiple stakes sire Favorite Cartel from the grade 1 finalist Jess Charming by Mr Jess Perry. Bred by The Quarter Company LLC, the Texas-bred 2-year-old is a half-brother to two black type included Twenty One Gunz and Jesstempting. His dam is a half-sister to grade 1 winner Louisiana Senator.

Also making his career debut, runner-up Old School Icon held on to the second fastest qualifying time of :15.709 seconds for owner-breeder Martha F. Wells. He was one of five qualifiers saddled by trainer Matthew M. Fales and had Mark Jasso in the saddle.

Old School Icon is by Arizona based multiple stakes sire Texas Icon from the Walk Thru Fire mare Cozie Fire.

Wells, Jasso and Fales had also teamed in the opening trial with Fashin Icon, a daughter of Texas Icon, who drew clear to win her career debut by one-length while posting the fourth fastest time of :15.865 seconds into a 9 mph headwind.

The bay Arizona-bred filly is out of Icebreaker by Bono Jazz. She defeated Stablemates Separate Delight El Infierno who finished second and third in the first trial.

Fales qualifiers were 2nd Old School Icon, 3rd Ms Patty Cake, 4th Fashin Icon, 5th Separate Delight and 6th El Infierno.

Texas Icon led all sires with four qualifiers, The Bounty Man got two and first-crop sire Separate Interest had one.

For a complete list of qualifiers for the Desert Classic Futurity, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.