The Friday program at Downs at Albuquerque will showcase a full day of top-level Quarter Horse Racing trials.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–SEPTEMBER 22, 2025–The Friday, September 26 program at Downs at Albuquerque will showcase a full day of top-level Quarter Horse racing, highlighted by seven trials for the La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity, three trials for the La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby, and concluding with the $30,000-added Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Regional Finals.

La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity Trials
Sixty-nine juveniles will compete in seven 400-yard trial heats, with the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the $100,000-added La Fiesta Futurity Finals on October 19.

The spotlight in race four falls on two standout contenders: The Diesel Train, the 8-5 morning line favorite, and Apolitical Valor, listed at 9-2.

The Diesel Train, by Freighttrain B out of Apollotah (by Apollitical Jess), was bred in Louisiana by Steve A. Holt and races for owner-trainer Luis Daniel Iturralde.

The colt has competed at the highest levels, qualifying for the (G2) $365,000 West Texas Futurity, the $100,000 Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational, and the (G1) $3 Million All American Futurity. However, tough racing luck has kept him from a finals victory. With earnings of $111,577, he will break from post six under jockey Omar Iturralde.

Apolitical Valor, drawn on the rail in post one, brings a strong record to the trials. The son of Apollitical Jess out of Belle of Valor (by Valiant Hero) was bred in Oklahoma by Canadian River QH, LLC and purchased for $50,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by MJR Investments, Ltd.

A winner at Remington Park and victorious in his Ruidoso Futurity trial, he also ran fourth in the (G1) $1 Million Ruidoso Futurity. With $223,672 in earnings, he is trained by Clinton Crawford and will be ridden by Jacob Enriquez.

The Futurity trials will be contested as races one through seven, beginning at approximately 1:30 PM.

La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby Trials

The sophomore division features twenty-six entrants spread across three heats at 400 yards, with the ten fastest qualifiers advancing to the $75,000-added La Fiesta Derby Finals on October 19.

Toastin Heros headlines the first heat. The gelding has made a strong three-year-old campaign, qualifying for the (RG1) $185,000 Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Derby and the (G2) $244,000 Heritage Place Derby.

Bred and owned by Gene Cox, Toastin Heros is by Valiant Hero out of Toastin With Coronas (by Coronas Leaving You). Trained by Clinton Crawford, he will start from post one with Jacob Enriquez in the irons.

In race nine, Respct looks to add to his résumé. The colt by Im a Fancy Pyc out of Kitty D Ville (by Takin On The Cash) was bred in Oklahoma by Richard Joneson and is owned by Renee K. Wilson.

With four wins and $91,900 in earnings, including multiple graded stakes placings, Respct enters off a confidence-boosting allowance win. He will break from post four under jockey Jacob Enriquez for trainer Clinton Crawford.

Daou, one of the most accomplished entrants, is closing the Derby trials. The gelding by FDD Dynasty out of Donelli (by Big Daddy Cartel) was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms and purchased for $270,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by J & SM, Inc.

Daou has earned $244,975, highlighted by a runner-up finish in the (G3) West Texas Derby, a fourth in the (G1) Ruidoso Derby, and a $100,000 All American Invitational Stakes qualification. Trained by Fred I. Danley, he will leave from post one under Adrian A. Ramos.

The Derby trials will be contested as races eight through ten, beginning at approximately 4:25 PM.

The Albuquerque Downs Races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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