Pirteville Cartel, the fastest qualifier to the 2018 running of the El Moro de Cumpas Derby, will head three trials for the $15,000-added El Moro De Cumpas Stakes on Saturday at Rillito Park.

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TUCSON, AZ – FEBRUARY 28, 2019 - This weekend at Rillito Park, trials for the $15,000-added El Moro De Cumpas Stakes will kick off the Saturday card on March 9. Three trials will determine the field for the 330-yard final scheduled on Sunday, March 17.

The trials are open to 3-year-olds and up. 19 horses have entered the trials, ranging from ages 4 to 9.

#4 Pirteville Cartel (3-1), the fastest qualifier to the 2018 running of the El Moro de Cumpas Derby, appears in the first trial for trainer Phil Pinedo; Carlos Marquez returns to the irons. Pirteville Cartel was fourth in the Derby but returned to defeat the winner, Red Beer, in their next match up at Sonoita.

Pirteville Cartel will make his second start of the year in the trial. The 4-year-old colt was second behind Frontera Special earlier this month at Rillito. #1 Frontera Special (7-2) is also entered in the first trial. The 9-year-old mare is trained by Omar Cruz and was third in the 2018 edition of the El Moro de Cumpas.

The morning line favorite in the first trial is #2 Jess Dashn (8-5). The 6-year-old gelding has lifetime earnings of $44,760 and will make his Rillito Park debut on Saturday. Most recently, he won the Mike Hastings Memorial Stakes at Turf Paradise in December.

The second-place finisher in last year’s El Moro de Cumpas Derby, #5 Miss First N Wild (6-1), returns in the second trial. The 4-year-old First N Wild filly has never finished worse than second in four starts in Tucson, including both lifetime wins. She’ll face Turf Paradise/Los Alamitos shipper #4 Texas Tornadoe (2-1). The 4-year-old daughter of Texas Icon is a multiple stakes winner for trainer Raul Valenzuela.

Five of the seven horses in the third and final trial are shipping in for the trials; the heavy favorite to watch is #3 Higher Icon (1-2). Higher Icon, recent winner of the AQRA Turf Paradise Derby, has won five of his 17 lifetime starts and has lifetime earnings of $61,770.

The El Moro de Cumpas trials are races 1-3 at Rillito Park on Saturday. Post time for the first race is 1:30 pm ET.

The Rillito Park live racing season includes Quarter Horse and Thoroughbred racing in Tucson, AZ on Saturdays and Sundays, February 9 through March 17. Gates open at 10:00 am, post time is at 1:30 pm MT through March 3 and 2:30 pm MT for the remainder of the meet.