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QH Racing Talk Weekly Podcast: Ep.80- All American Winning Jockey Alex Baldillez, Jr.
DALLAS, TX — September 24, 2026

All American Futurity (G1) and All American Derby (G1) winning jockey Alex Baldillez Jr. is the featured guest on the newest episode of QH Racing Talk–Weekly. Baldillez and his brother Roy, who won the 2011 All American Futurity aboard Ochoa, are the only brothers to have won the Labor Day classic.

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In episode 80, StallioneSearch.com’s Greg Thompson interviews Baldillez about his childhood alongside his siblings on the King Ranch in Kingsville, Texas, and his early development as a race rider. Baldillez also reflects on the relationships, horses and horsemen that shaped his 40-year career in the saddle as a Quarter Horse racing jockey.

Thompson is joined by racing analyst Yancye Guymon to discuss the futurities and graded stakes taking place across the country this weekend, highlighted by the Valley Junction Futurity (G3) at Prairie Meadows.

VIEW ALL PODCAST EPISODES HERE

As always, QH Racing Talk–Weekly brings fans closer to Quarter Horse racing through conversations with the people who have shaped the sport and analysis of its biggest races. Episode 80 pairs Baldillez’s account of his years as a jockey with a look at the races shaping the 2026 season.

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GRAND PRAIRIE, TX — September 24, 2026

This Cowboys An Eagle held off favored Dw Showin D Off by a head Thursday afternoon at Lone Star Park to capture the $17,400 TPHBA I'm Single Juvenile for 2-year-old Paints and Appaloosas.

The Texas-bred gelding broke sharply from the outside post and led throughout the 330-yard event, stopping the clock in :16.913 seconds over a fast track while earning an 89 speed index. Dw Showin D Off challenged the winner but came up a head short, while Catalina Scratch rallied late to finish third, another 1 1/4 lengths back.

Ridden by Raul Hernandez Jr. for trainer Joseph Manucy, This Cowboys An Eagle earned $10,266 for owner Jesus Molina. The 2-year-old gelding was bred in Texas by Sandra Garnett and is by This Is An Eagle, out of the Awesome Chrome mare Camo Cowgirl.

The victory improved his record to two wins and two seconds from eight career starts, boosting his earnings to $35,591. Earlier this season, he captured the Colors of Houston Juvenile (G2).

Dw Showin D Off finished second under Roman Cruz for owner Danny Watkins and trainer Dee Keener. Also bred by Watkins, the 2-year-old colt is by Uncle D, out of the Sf Royal Quick Flash mare Shez Showin Off.

The runner-up effort improved his record to three wins, two seconds and one third from eight starts, with earnings of $61,988. Earlier this season, he won the Victoria Ennis Memorial Stakes (G2) and finished third in the Oklahoma Paint & Appaloosa Futurity (G1).

Catalina Scratch finished third under Olvin Martinez for owner Melissa Dehoyos and trainer Oscar Nunez. Bred by Orlando Gonzalez, the 2-year-old filly is by Cat Scratch Dash, out of the Class King mare Eyes Truley.

The third-place finish improved her record to one win and one third from three career starts, with earnings of $6,444. She entered Thursday's race off a victory in the TPHBA Maiden Juvenile at Lone Star Park on September 11.

Trillion, Star 94, Riohot, Peace Out Homies and Cowboys Success completed the order of finish.

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GUTHRIE, OK — September 23, 2026

Flying Cowboy 123 reached rare territory this week when his 2026 progeny earnings surpassed $10 million, making him only the second AQHA Racing sire in history to reach the milestone during a single calendar year.

Through September 23, the son of all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess has been represented by 396 runners, 165 winners and 24 stakes winners this season, with earnings of $10,002,478, according to the latest AQHA leading sire statistics.

Even more remarkable is the timing. Flying Cowboy 123 reached the $10 million plateau with more than three months remaining in 2026.

The existing single-year benchmark belongs to his own sire, Apollitical Jess, whose progeny earned $10,264,258 in 2022. That season, Apollitical Jess was represented by 280 runners, 137 winners, and 28 stakes winners.

Flying Cowboy 123 enters the final quarter of 2026 just $261,780 short of Apollitical Jess' 2022 total, putting the record within striking distance as major fall stakes and championship races remain on the calendar.

Leading Flying Cowboy 123's record-setting season is Cowboys Flying SI 111, whose earnings have reached $2,062,793. The 2-year-old gelding out of Cartels Lady, by Carters Cartel, has won six of six races this season, including the $3 million All American Futurity (G1), TQHA Sale Futurity (RG1), and Texas Breeders Futurity.

Flying Cowboy 123's extraordinary 2026 season is particularly notable, given that he has only four crops of racing age.

His current sire summary lists 672 foals of racing age, 573 starters, and 340 winners, with 61 stakes winners. His runners have earned more than $27 million, averaging $47,181 per starter, while compiling a 2.32 Average Earnings Index.

His 2-year-olds have been especially dominant. From 254 current 2-year-old foals, Flying Cowboy 123 has 209 starters, 84 winners, and eight stakes winners, with earnings exceeding $6.46 million.

Through four crops to race, his lifetime 2-year-old progeny earnings have topped $18.14 million.

Flying Cowboy 123's rapidly expanding list of leading runners already includes three individual millionaires.

In addition to Cowboys Flying, he is the sire of Cowboys Gun Z SI 101, winner of $1,678,945 and an AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old and Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding. Cowboys Gun Z won the All American Futurity (G1) and Refrigerator Championship Stakes (G1).

Another son, Lethal Cowboy 123 SI 99, has earned $1,547,872 while becoming an AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old, Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding and AQHA Supreme Race Horse. His victories include the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1), Golden State Million Futurity (G1) and Vessels Maturity (G1).

Other major performers include Ask Her To Fly SI 102, an earner of $610,175 and runner-up in the All American Futurity (G1); Flying Joy 1 SI 102, an AQHA Racing Champion Two-Year-Old Filly and winner of $525,212; Cardiac Cowboy SI 102, winner of $491,689; and Electrifying Cowboy SI 104, winner of $419,203.

Flying Cowboy 123's lifetime statistical record includes 25 graded stakes winners, 36 additional black-type/stakes winners, and 41 black-type/stakes placers. His progeny include six Grade 1 winners, 10 Grade 2 winners, and nine Grade 3 winners.

The stallion has also been represented by three AQHA Racing Champions.

A 2016 sorrel stallion by Apollitical Jess and out of Hot Cash 123, by Takin On The Cash, Flying Cowboy 123 earned a 101 speed index and was named the AQHA Racing Champion Two-year-old Colt, AQHA Racing Champion Three-year-old Colt during his own racing career. He entered stud in 2020.

The Oklahoma-bred stallion is owned by Lainie Whitmire and stands at Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma. His 2027 stud fee has not been announced.

Flying Cowboy 123 has been a leading sire with every crop to reach the races and was the leading first-crop sire of all time.

Now, only six years after entering stud, he has joined his legendary sire in one of the most exclusive statistical categories in Quarter Horse racing history.

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ED ALLRED TO UNVEIL A TOP CONSIGNMENT AT 2026 LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE

Ed Allred, Quarter Horse racing’s all-time leading breeder, will be represented by an outstanding consignment of yearlings at the 22nd annual Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

Hip 17 is Still Seeking, a filly by Golden Boi from the family of Grade 1 winner Chance To Excel and stakes winners Chance To Fire, Nymph, and Always A Chance.

Hip 32 is Blahblahblah a filly by Golden Boi out of the stakes winner Blabber. This family includes major stakes winner Check My Thoughs plus stakes winners Free Thinker and Professor Gee.

Hip 43 is Seemly, another Golden Boi filly, whose granddam is the outstanding producer Moonlight Corona, who is the mother of Grade 1 winners Circle City and Norco.

Hip 73 is Miss Fresno, a Fly Thru The Fire filly from the family of Grade 1 winners Snitcher and Lets Leave and the stakes winner Time To Leave.

Hip 83 is Moonlike, a filly by Fly Thru The Fire out of the royally bred mare Full Moon, a full sister to graded stakes winners Circle City, Nomadic and Norco.

Hip 93 Guiding Star, a filly by Mpshinning out of Hearts Delight, whose dam is the millionaire and AQHA champion Higher Fire. This family includes Los Alamitos Super Derby runner-up Highest Fire and stakes winner Fly Baby Fly.

Hip 97 Favored Boy is a Favorite Cartel colt out of the stakes winner and $82,000 earner Hot Little Kiddy. This is the family of multiple graded stakes winner Kiddy Up Cowgirl and stakes winner Up The Interest.

Hips 125 Ellery Of London and 126 Londoner are full siblings by Favorite Cartel out of the great broodmare London Laura and are certainly two of the highlights of the entire sale. Hip 125 is a colt, while Hip 126 is a filly. They’re both full siblings to Grade 1 winners London Toby and the millionaire Toby Sis, as well as 2026 All American Futurity finalist Leaving London. This outstanding family also includes Grade 1 winners Oatman and Hulapai.

Hip 153 Monopolizer is another of the sale’s most anticipated offerings. This colt by Favorite Cartel out of the top broodmare Nymph and is a full brother to Rainbow Derby winner Sicario V, Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity winner Monopolist and Restricted Grade 1 Governor’s Cup Futurity winner Frivolous. This is also the family of multiple stakes winner and multiple Grade 1 runner-up Nymphette and Grade 1 stakes finalist Boardwalk.

Hip 164 is Peculiar is a filly by Mpshinning out of Quirkness, sister of AQHA champion and top producer Quirky. This family includes Grade 1 winner Mask Mandate and Restricted Grade 2 winner Contentious.

Hip 180 So Does He is a Golden Boi colt out of the stakes winner and $219k earner She Goes Up. She Goes Up’s dam is Up For It, who is one of nation’s most outstanding producers. Like She Goes Up, Up For It also won the Governor’s Cup Futurity.

Hip 181 Looking Sharp and Hip 192 Theatric are colts by Fly Thru Fire and from outstanding families. Looking Sharp’s catalog page includes AQHA World Champion He Looks Hot plus champions Hawkinson, Hawkish and Flame N Flash. Theatric is from the family of stakes winners Hot Hitter, Hard Hitting, Lassen County and Streak Hitter.

Hip 205 is Taking Leave a Favorite Cartel colt out of the stakes winner Time To Leave. Taking Leave is a full brother of Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby winner Lets Leave.

Hip 208 Baffling is a filly by Favorite Cartel and out of the stakes winner and $185,000 earner Tough To Figure. She’s produced winners No Can Tell, Many Moods and Tough To Catch.

Hip 209 Dubiously is a half-sibling to Hip 208 Baffling. This filly is by Golden Boi and also out of the decorated mare Tough To Figure.

Hips 214 Up To It and Hip 216 Lyle Eugene are half-siblings, both out of the outstanding broodmare and multiple stakes winner Up For It. Hip 214 Up To It is by the outstanding stallion Favorite Cartel, while Hip 216 Lyle Eugene is out of the rising young stallion Golden Boi. The great Up For It has produced Restricted Grade 1 Governor’s Cup Futurity winner She Goes Up and Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers Handicap Championship winners Up And Atem and Up for Everything. Up For It is also the dam of stakes winners Set For It and Ready For It.

Hip 203 is Bois Night Out a colt by Golden Boi and out of Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity winner The Partys On Fire. She’s the dam of Grade 1 winner Up To Party and stakes winner Bouncer.

CLICK BELOW for some of the top yearlings that are part of his Rolling A Ranch’s consignment.

The Los Alamitos Equine Sale is full of standouts and will be held on October 3 and 4. The entire sale will be streamed at LosAlamitosEquineSale.com and LosAlamitos.com.

The nighttime racing program on Saturday, October 3, will feature the trials to the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity. To view the full catalog online visit LosAlamitosEquineSale.com.

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Sales Highlights


LOS ALAMITOS EQUINE SALE

DateOctober 3–4, 2026CodeLAEMLocation
Cypress, CACatalog

ITOBA/QHRAI YEARLING & MIXED SALE

DateOctober 17, 2026CodeINDMLocation
Shelbyville, IN

FASTRACK OCTOBER MIXED SALE

DateOctober 25, 2026CodeFTOMSLocation
Gainesville, TX

HERITAGE PLACE FALL MIXED

DateNovember 5–7, 2026CodeHPFMLocation
Oklahoma City, OK

HERITAGE PLACE CHAMPIONS OF THE FUTURE ONLINE SALE

DateDecember 8–10, 2026CodeHPFIULocation
Oklahoma City, OK

FASTRACK DECEMBER MIXED SALE

DateDecember 13, 2026CodeFTDMSLocation
Gainesville, TX

FASTRACK NEW YEARS FOAL-IN-UTERO AND FROZEN EMBRYO SALE

DateDecember 31, 2026CodeFTFIUFESLocation
Gainesville, TX

HERITAGE PLACE WINTER MIXED SALE

DateJanuary 14–16, 2027CodeHPWMLocation
HPWM

HERITAGE PLACE SUMMER MIXED ONLINE SALE

DateJune 1–3, 2027CodeHPSMLocation
Oklahoma City, OK

Sales Search


GRAND PRAIRIE, TX — September 20, 2026

Im A Pretty Mess, a stakes-placed daughter of multiple stakes sire Tarzanito, has been installed as the 8-5 morning-line favorite for Saturday night's $20,000 Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Stakes (G3) at Lone Star Park.

The 400-yard event for Challenge enrolled fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and older, is carded as Race 11 with an approximate post time of 10:25 p.m. CT. Eight fillies and mares are entered.

Also at stake is a berth to the $125,000-est. Grade 1 Cox Ranch Challenge Championship to be run during the AQHA Challenge Championship Night at Downs at Albuquerque on October 17.

Im A Pretty Mess, breaking from post 3 under JR Ramirez Jr., brings one of the strongest recent efforts into the race. The 3-year-old Louisiana-bred filly finished second to Shakers No Secret in the $59,000 Retama Championship Challenge (G3) at 440 yards on August 21 after leading into the final stages.

She was beaten only a half-length and earned a 102 Speed Index. One start earlier, she finished third against older horses in a 400-yard allowance at Retama Park.

Im A Pretty Mess has won two of six career starts with a second and a third and earnings of $35,504. Both victories came during her 2-year-old campaign, including a 400-yard futurity at Evangeline Downs. She is one-for-two at Saturday's 400-yard distance.

SLC Racing LLC owns the 8-5 favorite, who is trained by Shae Cox and will be ridden by Ramirez. Bred by Joshua R. Henderson, Im A Pretty Mess is from Eagle Diva, by One Famous Eagle. She was a $24,000 LQHBA Yearling Sale graduate.

Paint This Rose, the 2-1 second choice from post 8, brings considerably more experience into the Distaff. The 5-year-old mare has compiled a 2-8-1 record from 21 starts and earned $72,098. She has finished first or second in 10 of those starts.

Paint This Rose was second in consecutive Remington Park allowances earlier this year, including a nose loss to Mystery V on April 9. She crossed the wire first in another Remington allowance May 16 but was declared a non-starter and disqualified. In her two subsequent stakes appearances at Fair Meadows, she finished fourth in the Golden Driller Stakes and sixth in the Belles Stakes.

The mare also has previous experience in this race, finishing fourth, beaten one length, in last year's Lone Star Distaff Challenge after encountering trouble at the start.

Aaron Newsom owns Paint This Rose, who is trained by Kevin Willis and will be ridden by Mario Delgado. Bob and/or Jerry Gaston bred the Texas-bred daughter of Pyc Paint Your Wagon from First Tea Rose, by First Down Dash. She sold for $37,000 at the Heritage Place sale.

Lettibefirst, at 5-1, completes the top three choices on the morning line. The 4-year-old mare has won twice from 17 career starts with two seconds and two thirds while earning $43,668. She has made five starts this season, winning once and finishing second once for earnings of $19,761.

Her biggest performance this season came June 13 at Arapahoe Park, where she rallied to win the $19,000 Pen Pal Stakes at 350 yards by a half-length while earning an 102 Speed Index. In her most recent start, she encountered trouble leaving the gate and finished sixth in the $31,000 Arapahoe Park Distaff Challenge at Saturday's 400-yard distance.

Owned and trained by Zachary Quezada, Lettibefirst will be ridden by Raul Ramirez Jr. Armando Jaquez bred the New Mexico-bred daughter of Walcott from Dashing Lili, by First Down Dash. No sale information is listed in the program.

The remainder of the field includes Mitoles Princess at 10-1, One Magic Eagle at 12-1, Dynastys Girl at 20-1, Pairadice City at 8-1 and Bm Candi Royale at 12-1. The program's mutuel ratings also list Im A Pretty Mess, Paint This Rose, Lettibefirst and Pairadice City in that order.

The Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge is part of Saturday night's Quarter Horse stakes program at Lone Star Park.

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ALBUQUERQUE, NM. — September 24, 2026

A place in the La Fiesta finals will be on the line Friday afternoon at Albuquerque Downs, where 111 Quarter Horses are set to compete across a 12-race card. First post is scheduled for 1:30 p.m.

The opening nine races feature 83 juveniles in the Downs at Albuquerque La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity Trials. The ten fastest qualifiers will return October 18 for the $350,000 La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity.

Renikas Cowgirl adds another contender to the Futurity trials after Tungsten Racing Partnership paid the $20,000 supplemental fee. She drew the first heat and is listed at 7-2 on the morning line.

Flying Cowboys Candy enters the third race as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The colt qualified for the Grade 1 $3 million All American Futurity in his most recent start, where he was crowded and checked late. He had previously finished second in both the $100,000 Rainbow Juvenile and the $203,000 Four Corners Futurity. With two wins and four runner-up finishes, he has earned $184,757 for CHR Racing, which purchased him for $39,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Bred in Oklahoma by PV Quarter Horse Farms, LLC, Flying Cowboys Candy is by Flying Cowboy 123 out of the Cartels Candy Man mare Candy Cartel Candy. Tony E. Cedilla trains the colt, who will leave from post seven with Christian Cardenas aboard.

Pyc Dollars Cowboy is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the opening heat. The gelding has been away from the races since finishing fourth in his Rainbow trial. He prepared for Friday’s return with a 220-yard gate work in :12.69 on September 4. He has won two of four starts and earned $158,265 for Homero Hermilo Campa-Mireles, who purchased him for $65,000 at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

The Oklahoma-bred son of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of the Pyc Paint Your Wagon mare Pyc Dollars and was bred by Matthew Eck. Marco A. Flores trains Pyc Dollars Cowboy, who drew the rail with Sergio Becerra, Jr. riding.

The focus shifts to the $250,000 La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby Trials for races ten through twelve. Twenty-eight sophomores will race for ten places in the October 18 final.

Two Derby entrants joined the trials through $20,000 supplemental payments. Terry Mesu is listed at 9-2 in race ten, while Ravos Rail is the 5-2 morning-line favorite in race eleven. Ravos Rail has made one start this season, rallying to finish third by half a length in his Rainbow trial. A Grade 1 All American Futurity finalist last year, he has a win, two seconds and a third from five career starts, with earnings of $91,400 for R and C Partnership. The partnership purchased the Freighttrain B colt, out of the FDD Dynasty mare Mavara Vegas, for $100,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Apolitical Valor brings the highest earnings among the Derby trial entrants into the final heat, race twelve, where he is the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The gelding has earned $265,462 for MJR Investments, Ltd. He qualified for the $100,000 All American Invitational this season and finished evenly after being bumped at the start. Last year, he finished third in the Grade 3 Mr Master Bug Stakes and reached the finals of both the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity and the Grade 3 La Fiesta Futurity, the latter as its fastest qualifier.

Bred in Oklahoma by Canadian River QH, LLC, Apolitical Valor is by Apollitical Jess out of the Valiant Hero mare Belle of Valor. Renee K. Wilson trains him, and Jacob Enriquez will ride from post six.

With emerging juveniles chasing a first major final and accomplished 3-year-olds seeking another, Friday’s card gives fans a full afternoon of racing against the clock.

The races at Lone Star Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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Type
Name
Starts
1st
2nd
3rd
Earnings
Cowboys Flying
6
6
0
0
$2,062,793
El Huracano V
5
3
1
1
$632,670
Ask Her To Fly
8
3
2
1
$610,175
Kj Meduzza
8
3
4
0
$605,092
Effortless Favorite
7
4
1
0
$574,790
By North American Race LeadersView Top 50 HORSES