The top names in the trials include Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres’ SM My Valentine, winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last year.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–JANUARY 22, 2026–Thirty-two sophomores have been divided into four trials at 400 yards to the Grade 1, $201,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on Saturday night at Los Alamitos. The trials will make up an all-Quarter Horse Late Pick Four and the quality of these standouts comes through as 20 of them already have stakes experience. First post is 6:05 p.m. with the trials set to begin with race number five on the card.

The horses with the 10 fastest times will advance to the 400-yard final to be held here on Valentine’s Day, Saturday, February 14. The $201,000 purse is the richest in this race since 2022. The 32 entrants are the most for this derby since 2023 and it’s 39% higher than the number of entrants in 2025 and 57 percent higher than the number of entrants in 2024.

The top names in the trials include Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres’ SM My Valentine, winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last year, Johnny Trotter’s Famous Talk, winner of the Holiday Handicap on December 28 and Alexis Andrade, Paul Jones, and Thompson Racing’s Doodah Cartel, a two-three graded futurity finalist in 2025. Here’s a closer look at each of the four trials and the top storylines going into each 400-yard race.

In the opening trial, SM My Valentine will look to make the most of his homefield advantage as he takes on new arrival Politician V, whose last start came in the Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park on November 15. Trained by Adan Farias, SM My Valentine raced exclusively at Los Alamitos during his eight-race juvenile campaign last year. He enjoyed a strong campaign as well, finishing third or better in six of those starts including an upset victory in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity over Toby Sis, who would later win the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. SM My Valentine returned to win his Two Million trial and while he did not make the final, he did return to finish a solid third in the Los Alamitos Invitational Juvenile. Eduardo Nicasio will ride the Kiss My Hocks gelding for trainer Adan Farias.

Owned and bred by Valeriano Racing Stables, Politician V made only three starts last year, one of those being a victory in his trial to the Texas Classic Futurity. After qualifying to the richest Quarter Horse race in Texas, Politician V did not have the best of starts but showed good late run to finish sixth in the 400-yard final.

LCI, LLC’s Bandita, third in the Holiday Handicap, and Newcomb Racing’s Cattail Coast, who was sixth in the Grade 1 Ed Burke are among the other top names in this heat.

The second trial could come down to LA Racing Stables, LLC’s Surprise Temptation and Doodah Cartel. A $100,000 purchase as a yearling at Heritage Place, the Tempting Dash gelding Surprise Temptation was part of the Two Million final but had among the most troubled trips in the race. He left flying, but the drifted out, bumped and then got pinballed on his way to losing his racing path before drifting back on the way to crossing the finish line in ninth place before being moved up to eighth due to a disqualification.

The Paul Jones-trained Doodah Cartel was outstanding in trials last year, winning twice, running second once and finishing third in his other trial while qualifying to the Ed Burke, PCQHRA Breeders, and Golden State Million Futurity in which he posted the fastest qualifying time. Doodah Cartel has enjoyed some time off and should be firing in all cylinders once again in this trial race with leading jockey Henry Reynoso Lopez up once again for trainer Paul Jones.

Jones will saddle Parsons Ranch’s The Lady Is A Vamp in the third trial, a race in which she figures to be a top contender as she’s also done well in trials. The talented Apollitical Blood filly won the trials to both the PCQHRA Breeders and Golden State Million and another big effort could certainly happen on Saturday night. LA Racing Stables LLC’s Notoryous, who has finished second or better in all five of his career starts, is another top contender in this trial. Second in the Ah Sigh Handicap here two outings ago, the colt by One Famous Eagle won his Golden State Million trial and ran second in his Two Million trial.

The final trial looks like the most wide-open contest, as Famous Talk comes in fresh off a super ¾ length Holiday win, while Los Alamitos Two Million Invitational Juvenile winner Jarvis V, Underworld Goddess, AJ Big Cash, Walk When I Walk, and SG Jacob Jay have all shown top level talent during their racing careers.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.