Owner Alex Torres Casas, trainer Matt Fales, and jockey Kevin Carbajal earned meet-leading honors through standout performances across the season at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

Turf Paradise wrapped up its 2026 meet on Saturday, May 2, and announced the year-end meet leaders. Owner Alex Torres Casas, trainer Matt Fales, and jockey Kevin Carbajal each turned in standout campaigns to claim their respective titles.

Alex Torres Casas led all owners with 20 wins from 151 starts during the meet. He also posted 21 second-place and 13 third-place finishes, with total earnings of $312,110.

His season was highlighted by a victory in the Desert Classic Futurity, won by his top runner, Cyber Buzz, a filly sired by Cyber Monday and out of the Apollitical Jess mare Hunny Bee.

Leading owner Alex Torres.© Coady Media

Cyber Buzz remained undefeated in three starts, earning $54,177. After breaking her maiden in her debut, she posted the fastest qualifying time to the Desert Classic Futurity, winning her trial heat by 2 1/2 lengths with a 104 speed index, then returned in the finals to secure her third victory. Torres-Casas, who was also the meet’s runner-up trainer, conditioned Annes Dynasty, winner of the AQRA Open Presidents Spring Futurity on closing night for owner/breeder Jose Antonio de Santiago.

Ralph and Carrie Fales followed in second among owners with a record of 18-12-12 from 63 starts and $241,239 in earnings during the meet. J Lazy Six Racing finished third with a record of 10-16-6 from 55 starts and $192,182 in earnings.

Matt Fales secured leading trainer honors with 31 victories, 20 second-place finishes, and 27 thirds from 130 starts, totaling $459,479 in meet earnings. Leading owner Alex Torres Casas was not far behind in second among trainers with a record of 26-23-16 from 153 starts and $394,340 in earnings. David John Williams followed in third with a record of 10-14-6 from 53 starts and $179,183 in earnings.

Leading trainer Matt Fales.© Coady Media

The leading trainer, Matt Fales, was led by the meet’s top performer, Shiny Nova. The son of Racy Casanova has compiled 13 career victories from 21 starts and remained undefeated in 2026 with three wins from three starts. The five-year-old gelding out of the First To Shine mare Alltheshine earned $70,697 during the meet and increased his lifetime earnings to $171,558 while riding a four-race win streak to close the season.

Shiny Nova captured both the Allred Brothers Stakes and the Turf Paradise Championship Challenge, establishing himself as one of the meet’s top money earners.

Kevin Carbajal earned leading rider honors with 25 wins, 20 seconds, and 15 thirds, along with $326,310 in earnings from 134 mounts. Mark Jasso followed closely in second with a record of 22-12-21 from 104 mounts and $299,120 in earnings. Cerapio Figueroa finished third with a record of 14-17-13 from 108 mounts and $153,577 in earnings.

Leading jockey Kevin Carbajal.© Coady Media

A consistent presence among the top finishers, Carbajal’s meet was highlighted by his work aboard Heart On A Run, a filly by Corona Cartel and out of the One Famous Eagle mare One Spicy Eagle. The filly hit the board in seven of nine starts with a record of 2-3-2 and $52,236 in earnings. She also delivered a strong runner-up finish in the AQRA Derby.

Together, Torres Casas, Fales, and Carbajal led the way during the 2026 Turf Paradise meet with strong results throughout the season

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