Sunshining, under jockey Jose Juan Olivo, posts the fastest qualifying time of :19.917 seconds in the Mile High Futurity trials Friday at Arapahoe Park.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

AURORA, CO—OCTOBER 31, 2025—Three trials featuring a total of sixteen 2-year-olds were contested Friday afternoon at Arapahoe Park to determine the finalists for the $90,000-estimated Mile High Futurity, and all three of the fastest qualifiers emerged from the first heat of the day.

Leading the group was Sunshining, who clocked the fastest time of :19.917 seconds for 400 yards, earning a 97 speed index under jockey Jose Juan Olivo.

The daughter of second-year sire Mpshinning broke sharp, ducked in briefly, and held firm to the wire to prevail by a head over Ronda Rowsey. Racing for Celenes’s Racing LLC and trained by Chris Gandarilla, the California-bred is out of Little Talks by Favorite Cartel and bred by Steve D. Burns DVM.

A $38,000 purchase at the 2024 Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Sunshining has now won both of her career starts, earning $8,880.

Ronda Rowsey, the even-money favorite, finished second with a strong late rally in 19.951 seconds, earning a 96 speed index. The Favorite Cartel filly is out of Ms Jess Knockout by Apollitical Jess, bred and owned by George L. Seward, who also conditions the filly. She was guided by jockey Mauro Jesus Rodriguez.

A consistent stakes contender, Ronda Rowsey entered the trials off a win in the Cherry Creek Futurity earlier this month and has compiled a record of two wins, two seconds, and two thirds from eight starts with $36,484 earned.

Third-fastest qualifier Deja Dulce posted a time of 19.981 seconds, good for a 95 speed index. The gelded son of Dulce Sin Tacha was ridden by Jacob Cardenas for trainer Jess R. Matt and is owned by Daisy Carlson and Joe Goggins.

Bred in Oklahoma by Flag Ranch LLC, he is out of La Deja Blue by Carters Cartel. Deja Dulce has hit the board in seven of nine career starts, highlighted by wins in the Wyoming Downs Futurity, a second-place finish in the Sweetwater Downs Futurity, and fifth in both the Energy Downs Futurity and GHS Futurity Consolation, amassing $180,465 in earnings.

The juveniles will return for the Mile High Futurity (G3) final at Arapahoe Park on Sunday, November 16, 2025. CLICK HERE for complete results of the trials.

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