The Diesel Train (#5) battles Rovos Rain (#4) to post the fastest qualifying time on Day 2 of the $3,000,000 All American Futurity(G1) trials at The Downs in Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 5, 2025—Sixteen trials were held Tuesday at The Downs at Albuquerque to determine the final five qualifiers for the 2025 All American Futurity(G1), the world’s richest race for 2-year-olds.

The five fastest from Day 2 will join the five fastest from Monday’s trials (see related story) to compete for a $3,000,000 purse—with $1,500,000 to the winner—on Labor Day, Monday, September 1.

Topping Day 2’s qualifiers was The Diesel Train, a Louisiana-bred colt by world champion sire Freighttrain B out of Apollotah by Apollitical Jess, who surged late to post the fastest time of the day—21.060 for 440 yards—in the eleventh trial, which had a 10 mph tailwind.

Rovos Rail, finished second in the fastest trial to post the second fastest time. © Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch

Trained and owned by Luis Daniel Iturralde and ridden by Omar Iturralde, The Diesel Train was bred by Steve A. Holt and prevailed by a neck over fellow qualifier Rovos Rail. 

"When he was getting close to the wire, he kicked it into another gear and we just cruised on home," Omar said. "He’s a great horse."

A finalist in the Grade 2 West Texas Futurity earlier this year, The Diesel Train got his second career win today in six starts. His dam is a half-sister to stakes winners Lota Pyc, Watah Flash, Regard Watah, and Lota James.

Runner-up Rovos Rail, a $100,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale purchase bred in Oklahoma by Bird Ranch & Oil LP, is also by Freighttrain B, out of Mavara Vegas by FDD Dynasty. He posted the second-fastest time of 21.104 for owner R and C Partnership, trainer James J. Gonzales III, and jockey Joseph Belloc, Jr.

Kj Equizit Jess, under jockey Emilio Tapia, posted the second fastest time in the opening trial on Day 2.
© Coady Media

Rova Rail broke his maiden in his career debut, a trial for the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity(RG1). In his only other appearance this season, he was second in his Ruidoso QH Futurity(G1) trial.

The third-fastest qualifier from Day 2 was Kj Xquizit Jess, a sorrel gelding by Apollitical Jess out of Xquizit by Ivory James, who clocked 21.121 in the first race of the day with an eight mph tailwind.

Bred in Arizona by John and/or Kathy Lee, the gelding races for the Lee family and I. Ruben Mares. He is trained by Wesley T. Giles and was piloted by Emilio Tapia.

Dee Favorite Tacha, under jockey Jesse Levario, got the third fastest clocking in Trail 3. © Coady Media

The Lees and Mares are no strangers to the All American Futurity(G1) winner's circle after scoring with their all-time leading money earner Kj Desparado in 2021.

Also advancing to the September 1 final is Dee Favorite Tacha, who drew away to win the second trial in 21.176, also with a five mph tailwind.

The Oklahoma-bred gelding is the second All American finalist for leading first-crop sire Dulce Sin Tacha. Purchased for $25,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling, he is out of Dee Favorite Girl by Favorite Cartel.

Lethal Lobo, under jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., scored the final spot on Day 2 in Trial 15. © Coady Media

He is owned and trained by Ricardo G. Armendariz, Jr., in partnership with Eric Pineda. Jesse Lee Levario rode him to his second win in three starts. The Mixer Ranch bred Dee Favorite Tacha.

Rounding out the Day 2 qualifiers is Lethal Lobo, who rallied to win the 15th trial in 21.194 with a 6 mph tailwind. A $200,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale graduate, the brown gelding is by Favorite Cartel out of the multiple stakes-producing Lethal Delight by Dean Miracle.

He was bred in Texas by P.K. Thomas and races for Ricardo Ramirez. Lethal Lobo was the second qualifier of the day for trainer Wesley T. Giles. Noe Garcia, Jr rode him.

The ten finalists—five from each day—will return on Monday, September 1, to contest the $3,000,000 All American Futurity(G1) at 440 yards. The richest race in the Quarter Horse world will award $1,500,000 to the winner, with every finalist guaranteed a minimum of $60,000.

Day 1’s top qualifier was King Of The Tide, who led the field with a time of 20.984 seconds. CLICK HERE for the whole field, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The second five fastest qualifiers from Day 1 and Day 2 are preferred invites to the $200,000 All American Juvenile, which will also run back on Labor Day, September 1. For those horses, CLICK HERE.

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