Dk Mirnalda is one of the top contenders in the Subasta Selecta Futurity trials to be held Saturday and Sunday at the Hipodromo de las Americas.

© Miguel Angel Espinoza / Hipodromo de Las Américas

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–JULY 31, 2026–One of the most anticipated weekends of the Mexican Quarter Horse racing season will take place at Hipódromo de Las Américas, where eighty-one of the nation's top 2-year-olds will compete over two days of trials for the RG2 Futurity Subasta Selecta and the Mexico Futurity Consolation. The first race on both Saturday and Sunday is set for 3:00 p.m., with ten trial heats over 350 yards determining which juveniles will advance to Mexico's prestigious Breeders' Cup Day on August 23.

The top five fastest qualifiers from each day will earn berths in the RG2 $182,812 Futurity Subasta Selecta Final, while the next five fastest from each day will return to the $20,868 Mexico Futurity Consolation, also known as the Alberto Bailleres Classic. Both races headline the Quarter Horse Breeders' Cup program, and the Futurity Final honors Abelardo Gallegos Fernández, breeder of 2025 Mexican Triple Crown winner Rey de Manny.

Unlike last season, no Triple Crown winner will be crowned in 2026, adding even more significance to this year's championship weekend as a new group of rising stars looks to establish itself.

Saturday's opening day features 41 juveniles across the first five races, creating what appears to be one of the year's most competitive trial programs. With several accomplished runners returning from major futurity events, every fraction of a second will be critical, as only five horses will secure places in the championship final.

The spotlight in the second trial falls on undefeated filly Dk Mirnalda, who has been installed as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. Racing for Cuadra San Martin, the daughter of Danny Cartel has won both of her career starts, including the prestigious RG3 $145,998 XVI Futurity Mexico, while banking $65,751.

Bred in Mexico by Cuadra La Presita, she is out of the Fantastic Corona Jr mare Wl Shez To Fantastic. Trainer Luis Enrique Cruz Solis sends her from the rail under leading rider Leonardo Vidaña as she attempts to keep her perfect record intact.

The afternoon's final trial features another accomplished juvenile, Kc Flyin Jess, the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The gelding rebounded impressively after finishing ninth in the Mexico Futurity earlier this season, capturing the RG2 $143,580 Garañones Futurity. Owned by Cuadra Alpuyeca, he has two wins and one runner-up finish in four starts, earning $60,326.

The son of Krash Cartel, out of the Fly Jess Fly mare Jess Love To Fly, was bred by Abelardo F. Gallegos and is trained by Antonio Garcia Carranza. Angel Santillan will guide the talented gelding from post three.

Sunday's program features another 40 juveniles competing in five additional trial heats, with several emerging prospects aiming to establish themselves among Mexico's elite freshman runners.

The featured runner on the second day is Dk Tsunami Cartel, the 5-2 morning-line favorite in the third race. The Cuadra San Martin gelding has raced four times, highlighted by a trial victory and a game second-place finish, beaten by only a neck, in the RG2 Garañones Futurity. His consistent performances have earned $35,500.

The son of Danny Cartel is out of the Good Reason SA mare Jess A Reason V and was bred by Cuadra La Presita. Luis Enrique Cruz Solis trains the gelding, who will break from post six with Leonardo Vidaña aboard.

The final trial of the weekend features another powerful Cuadra San Martin representative, as Kc Royal Queen has been tabbed the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The filly enters with an impressive resume, including two victories in four starts, highlighted by her win in the $16,000 Mexico Futurity Consolation. She has earned $11,786, giving her connections another strong opportunity to qualify for championship day.

Bred by Abelardo Gallegos Fernández, the daughter of Krash Cartel is out of the Royal Quick Dash mare Quick Glass. Trainer Luis Enrique Cruz Solis will saddle the filly to break from post five, with Leonardo Vidaña in the irons.

With only ten coveted positions available in the RG2 Futurity Subasta Selecta Final, every break from the gate and every stride down the 350-yard course will matter. The mix of accomplished stakes winners, undefeated prospects, and rapidly improving juveniles should deliver two afternoons of outstanding competition as Mexico's next generation of Quarter Horse stars battles for a chance at Breeders' Cup glory.

The championship atmosphere will carry through Breeders' Cup Week as Hipódromo de Las Américas also hosts the XLII Subasta Selecta Yearling Sale from August 20-22. The three-day auction will showcase 475 elite Quarter Horse yearlings from 105 of the industry's leading sires. Attention will then shift to Breeders' Cup Day, when ten stakes races, including the Futurity Subasta Selecta Final and Mexico Futurity Consolation, will highlight one of the premier racing programs on the Mexican Quarter Horse calendar.

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