The two fastest qualifiers from the trials, Alitlelesstalk and Zm Jess, return to compete in the AQRA Futurity on Friday at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 25, 2025—The Friday afternoon program at Turf Paradise will feature an eight-race card highlighted by two major futurity events for Arizona-bred juveniles, the $17,800 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity Consolation Stakes and the $62,350 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity. The first post is scheduled for approximately 1:15 PM.

The opening race is the $17,800 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity Consolation Stakes, where nine juveniles that advanced from the December 3 trial heats return to compete at 350 yards. Jess Icon heads the field as the 3-1 morning line favorite. The gelding is a winner of the Desert Classic Futurity Consolation earlier this year and showed improvement in the trials after trainer Armando Castellanos added a flipping halter to help sharpen his early speed.

Sired by One Famous Icon and out of Blak Sugar by Azoom, Jess Icon was bred in Arizona by Martin Lopez and has earned $14,741 from five starts for owner Erica Carreon. He will break from post five with Jacob Enriquez in the irons.

The second race features the $62,350 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity, showcasing the ten fastest qualifiers from the December 3 trial heats at 350 yards.

Heart On a Run enters as the 3-1 morning line favorite after winning her trial by one length to post the third-fastest qualifying time. The lightly raced filly has finished on the board in all four career starts, including a runner-up effort in the $52,000 AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity, and has earned $18,116 for breeders and owners J Lazy Six Racing.

The Corona Cartel filly is out of One Spicy Eagle by One Famous Eagle and is trained by David John Williams. She will race from the outside post ten with Noe Garcia Jr. aboard.

Also drawing strong attention is Alitlelesstalk, listed at 7-2 on the morning line. The gelding returns to defend his status as the fastest qualifier after capturing the $83,600 Desert Classic Futurity earlier this season. From five career starts, he owns two victories and a second-place finish while earning $48,982 for breeders and owners Ralph and Carolyn Fales.

Sired by Tell Cartel and out of Jess One Looke by Jesse James Jr., Alitlelesstalk is trained by Matthew M. Fales and will start from post two with Luis A. Valenzuela in the saddle.

With a competitive group of Arizona-bred juveniles lining up in both futurity events, the Turf Paradise Friday card promises an exciting afternoon of racing and a strong showcase of the state’s emerging Quarter Horse talent.

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

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