Desert Classic Futurity winner Four Seet Kid will head the first of four trials on Wednesday for the $20,000-added AQRA–Turf Paradise Open Derby.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 4, 2025—The Wednesday program at Turf Paradise will feature a ten-race card highlighted by four trial heats for the AQRA–Turf Paradise Open Derby. A total of thirty-six sophomores will go 400 yards seeking one of the ten fastest qualifying times to advance to the $20,000-added AQRA–Turf Paradise Open Derby Finals on December 31.

In the opening trial heat, Four Sweet Kid stands out as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The accomplished three-year-old gelding captured the 2024 $65,575 Desert Classic Futurity and finished second in the 2024 $61,880 AQRA Futurity. His Derby season has been equally impressive, beginning with victories in the $40,000 Desert Classic Derby Stakes and the $60,000 AQRA Arizona Bred Derby. It includes a qualifying berth to the $53,000 Will Rogers Downs Derby Challenge Stakes.

A homebred for Jose Aguilar Mendoza, the son of One Sweet Jess, is out of Loud Little Kid by Kiddy Up. Trainer Diego Cervantes ships him in to break from post eight with regular rider Oscar Andrade Jr. returning to the irons.

The fourth and final trial is headlined by the formidable Nine One Won, installed as the heavy 3-5 morning-line favorite. The Tempting Dash-sired gelding has built a standout résumé, qualifying to a series of major Derbies including the G3 Oklahoma Derby, G2 Heritage Place Derby, Retama Park Derby (runner-up), G2 Dash for Cash Derby (runner-up), and the G1 Texas Classic Derby. With six career victories and $193,213 in earnings, he enters the trials as the most decorated contender for owner Jimenas Ranch.

Bred in Texas by Cindi M. Keeton, Nine One Won is out of Not My Choice by Jody O Toole. Trainer Raul Ramirez will saddle the gelding from the outside post nine, with his brother Esgar Ramirez returning to ride.

With graded stakes performers and proven winners set to compete, Wednesday’s first four races promise to deliver a competitive and high-caliber set of qualifying heats. First post is scheduled for 12:45 PM as connections pursue a spot in the December 31 finals of the $20,000-added AQRA–Turf Paradise Open Derby.

The Turf Paradise races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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