Kempton (#1 on inside), ridden by Ali Rivera, clocked the fastest qualifying time to the $47,993 Texas Classic Juvenile with a third place finish in trial 11.

© Dustin Orona Photography

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 25, 2024–Grade 1 winner Kempton, just missed his mark getting into the Futurity trials on Friday and clocks the fastest qualifying time to $47,993 Texas Classic Juvenile at Lone Star Park.

Piloted by Ali Rivera, Kempton placed third in trial 11 of 12 to Machiavelli and Firey Eagle. The post-time favorite dueled and got up to finish with a 95 speed index in 19.680 seconds. The 400-yard finish paid $2.20 to show.

The son champion sire Kiss My Hocks broke his four-win streak with the third-place finish, his first non-win from five starts. Kempton won the Heritage Place Futurity [G1] and has earned $476,086 for his owner, Ozaca Ranch, LLC.

Tyler Graham and Namgis QHs, LLC bred Kempton in Texas. The $38,000 TQHA Yearling Sale repurchase is out of Charming Cartel by Corona Cartel. He is a half-brother to G2 placed and All American Derby [G1] finalist American Hussle. His second dam is a champion mare and Grade 1 winner, Miss Kips Streakin.

Trial two produced the second fastest qualifier to the Juvenile, Favorite Mvp Z, ridden by Luis Vivanco. Favored to win, he crossed the wire 1/2-length ahead of Flyingfooserageious and Adrian Ramos in 19.718 seconds, clocking a 94 speed index. The victory paid $3.40 to win.

Trainer Toby Keeton saddled Favorite Mvp Z for owner Francisco Urteaga. The son of Favorite Cartel has lit the board six of seven starts with three wins and $52,531 in the bank. He placed third in the Dash For Cash Juvenile Stakes earlier this month and was a finalist in the Grade 2 Sam Houston Futurity.

Slash Z Quarter Horses bred the $125,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate in Texas out of Ms Valiant Perry by Valiant Hero.

John Stinebaugh and Toby Keeton each qualified three finalists to the Juvenile, while Juan Diaz conditioned two and Wes Giles and Jed Vane trained one.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the remaining finalists in the $47,993 Texas Classic Juvenile trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer and jockey. Finals are to be run on November 16, 2024.