AURORA, CO—AUGUST 10, 2019—With a strong finish under jockey Roberto Valero, Could Be Hotter defeated Logans Favorite by a head in Sunday's $96,344 Mile High Derby at Arapahoe Park. Midnite Dash was another neck back in the blanket finish to get third.

Saddled by trainer Hipolito Michel-Valverde, Could Be Hotter raced over the 400 yard muddy (sealed) racecourse in :19.899 seconds, equaling a 93 speed index. The $39,364 winners' purse boosted his total earnings mark to $65,563.

Junior's Quarter Horses, Inc. campaigns the son of champion sire Walk Thru Fire from the Check Him Out mare Look Her Over. Edward C. Allred bred Could Be Hotter in California. He was second in the Rocky Mountain Derby in June and has compiled a (12) 4-1-2 record.

Runner-up Logans Favorite, a son of leading sire Favorite Cartel, races for owner Cesar Nunez and is conditioned by trainer Eliazar Salas. Juan Pulido had the riding call aboard the California-bred out of Logans Dash by Toast To Dash. M & G Farms, Inc. is the breeder. He earned $20,095 to double his earnings to $40,994.

Pedro and Lillia Andazola's Midnite Dash earned $12,388 for finishing third. Also trained by Michel-Valverde, the Bodacious Dash gelding was ridden by jockey Armando Ramirez. Richard and Genevieve Herrman bred the black gelding in Colorado from the Panther Mountain mare DG Sumit. He has earned over $49,500.

Denali Snowflake, One Two, Aint She Kool and Jess Un Sies Mas completed the field. Dg Favorite, Dubdeuce and Ryans Cartel were all scratched.