One Little Liar (#9) rallies over Bacardi (#4) while setting the fastest qualifying time for the $65,000-added West Texas Derby(G2) Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Photography

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 10, 2024—Last year's Four Corners Futurity winner, One Little Liar, returned to the winner's circle again today while posting the fastest qualifying time from seven trials contested for the Grade 3 West Texas Derby at Sunland Park.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will return to the racetrack on Sunday, March 2 to compete for the winner's share of a $156,900 purse going 400 yards.

Bouncing off a troubled nine-place effort in her 2024 debut January 14, jockey Noe Garcia, Jr. rallied the son of multiple sakes sire One Valiant Hero to a neck win over Bacardi in the opening trial. Her time of :19.196 seconds, a 103 speed index with a 15 mph tailwind, was the fastest on the day.

Trainer Andres Gonzalez conditions the brown gelding for owner Adrian Zapata. Bred in Oklahoma by Dunn Ranch and Top Roustabouts, One Little Liar is out of Pretty Little Liar by Mr Jess Perry. He has won four of eight starts and banked $104,899.

Runner-up Bacardi, a son of four-time World Champion sire FDD Dynasty, qualified with the second fastest clocking of 19.223 seconds, also a 103 speed index.

A finalist in the Rainbow QH Futurity(G1) and the West Texas Futurity(G2) last year, Bacardi races for owner-trainer Michael Valenzuela. Jorge Haddad bred the $16,044 money earner in Texas from the Mr Jess Perry mare Jess Another Habit.

Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez Grade 2-placed Mitey Relentless was a three-length winning in the second trial to garner the third fastest time of :19.3354, a 98 speed index with a 12 mph tailwind.

Trainer Jesus Rondan Jr. named jockey Luis Martinez to ride the Hes Relentless gelding our of Mitey Moon by First Moonflash. Debra Laney bred the $106,800 money earner.

CLICK HERE for the complete list of finalists, including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys to the 60th running of the Grade 3 West Texas Derby.

Live racing resumes at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino on Sunday with a nine-race card which has a first post time of 12:25 p.m. (MST).