Grade 1 All American Derby winner Hotstepper will head five trials on Friday for the Texas Classic Derby (G1) at Lone Star Park.

© Ernesto Salinas / StallioneSearch

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX—OCTOBER 16, 2018—Hotstepper, a Grade 1-winning son of One Famous Eagle, is one of 47 3-year-olds entered in Friday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

Trained by C. Dwayne “Sleepy” Gilbreath for owners Johnny D. Cope, R.D. Hubbard, Rafter W Stables, and Henry Southway, Hotstepper is coming off of a Ruidoso Downs summer campaign during which the bay gelding earned $601,560 from six starts and scored a neck victory in the 440-yard, $1.239-million All American Derby (G1) on September 2.

Hotstepper drew post 2 and will be ridden by Cody Jensen in the fourth of five trials.

Fly Baby Fly, the runner-up in the All American Derby, drew post 7 and will be ridden by Jose A. Alvarez in the second heat. Trained by Jimmy Padgett for the Fly Baby Fly Partnership, the sorrel daughter of One Famous Eagle has banked $1,813,627 from 10 races, and her three wins include a 1 1/2-length victory in last year’s 440-yard, $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Other prominent sophomores entered in the Texas Classic Derby trials include Eos A Political Win, who brings a three-race win streak into the second heat. Trained by Rolando Almanza for Elite Oilfield Services, the Apollitical Jess colt is coming off of a half-length score in the 440-yard, $163,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G3) on October 6.

Jesse Levario will ride Eos A Political Win from post 3.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the November 10, $400,000-est. Texas Classic Derby final.

All Lone Star Park races can be seen at Q-RacingVideo.com.