El Ilusionista Sr kept his streak alive Sunday night at Hipódromo de las Américas, scoring his fourth straight win when he captured the $125,500 Mexico Breeders’ Futurity under Nestor Duran.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MX—DECEMBER 21, 2025—In Sunday's final race of the evening at the Hipódromo de las Américas, favorite El Ilusionista Sr delivered exactly what bettors expected, scoring his fourth consecutive win with a decisive victory in the $125,500 Mexico Breeders’ Futurity.

Ridden by Nestor Duran, El Ilusionista Sr covered the 400 yards in 19.56 seconds, turning back an early challenge from Dk Misty Cartel and jockey Paul Osvaldo Rodriguez. He clocked a 93 speed index at the wire to win by over a length. Kc Shes Cartel followed behind in third with Arturo Vega Moreno aboard. 

“I was a little worried about DK Misty Cartel, since I also qualified her in the trials, but El Ilusionista Sr felt good coming out of the gates,” said Duran. “He stood perfect and broke clean. He was ready to compete and got down to business. It all worked out in the end.”

El Ilusionista Sr capped his season with his biggest win to date, improving his 2025 record to six wins from eight starts. Earlier in the year, he won the Mexico Breeders Futurity Challenge Consolation in October and finished second in the Garanones Futurity Consolation in June.

The winning connections of El Ilusionista Sr accept the Mexico Breeders’ Futurity trophy at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Sunday. © Luis Prieto Zamudio

For Duran, the victory was another signature moment in a season that has already rewritten the record books. Saturday’s win marked his fourth major futurity score of the year, adding to a campaign highlighted by his role aboard Rey De Manny, Mexico’s first Triple Crown winner, who swept the Mexico Futurity, Garanones Futurity, and Subasta Selecta Futurity.

“I never imagined winning four of the five futurities and the Triple Crown in one season,” said an emotional Duran. “We made history, and I’m grateful for every horse and every person who helped me get here.”

El Ilusionista Sr entered the final off a strong trial performance, winning his heat with the second-fastest time of the qualifiers. With the $62,750 winner’s share, he lifted his lifetime earnings to $96,000 for owner Cuadra San Martin. He is trained by Luis Enrique Cruz and was bred by Rancho Santa Rosa Chiapas out of Muscles Diable by Valiant Hero.

CLICK BELOW TO WATCH THE RACES (The Mexican Breeders Futurity was race 11, Consolation was race 8).

Runner-up Dk Misty Cartel continued a steady season of high-level finishes. She has now placed second in the Mexico Breeders Futurity Challenge and the Mexico Futurity, and third in the Subasta Selecta Futurity. She is also trained by Cruz for Cuadra San Martin, and has hit the board in every start this year.

Dk Misty Cartel has a record of 3-4-1 from eight starts and $133,300 in the bank. She was bred by Cuadra La Presita and is out of Mingle Tingle by First Moonflash.

Third-place finisher Kc Shes Cartel was saddled by trainer Angel Gustavo Magdaleno for owner Cuadra Las Vegas. The juvenile filly has four wins from 10 starts with $64,000 earned and was a finalist in both the Subasta Selecta Futurity and Mexico Futurity. She was bred by Abelardo Gallegos and is out of Shes Tough Enough P by Apollitical Jess.

Br Misal, Kc Coco Cristal, Mr Do Chicks, Mi Krash Favorito, Br Chago, and Dk Candymex completed the order of finish.

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