Daou, ridden by Christian Cardenas, wins his trial heat and clocked the fastest qualifying time to the West Texas Derby [G3] at Sunland Park on Saturday.

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SUNLAND PARK, NM–FEBRUARY 8, 2025–Five trials were held on Saturday, with 44 three-year-olds vying for a spot in the $158,060 added West Texas Derby [G3] at Sunland Park. Half-brothers Daou and Harken won their trial heats and clocked the top two fastest times.

Daou, ridden by Christian Cardenas, set the time to beat in 19.135 seconds, defeating Ozarke by a half-length. Starting from the six hole in trial #2, he took the lead at first call and kept it to the wire, clocking a 99-speed index. The three-year-old son of FDD Dynasty was favored to win, and his 400-yard victory paid $6.00 on 2-1 odds.

Trained by Fred Danley, Daou hasn't won a race since breaking his maiden last year in his first start at Sunland Park, but he is no stranger to earning black type.

Daou placed second in the Rainbow Juvenile Stakes, third in the Ruidoso Juvenile Stakes and fifth in the All American Juvenile Stakes. The $5,350 winner's share of today's purse boosted his earnings to $68,774 from nine starts.

MJ Farms bred Daou in New Mexico out of the Big Daddy Cartel stakes-winning mare Donelli. He is from the family of champions Alice K White and Astica. Daou's owner, J & SM Inc, purchased him for $270,000 in the 2023 Ruidoso New Mexico Yearling Sale.

The second fastest time of the day came from the first trial. Harken, piloted by Sergio Becerra Jr, won his trial heat from gate to wire in 19.196 seconds, clocking a 98-speed index. The post-time favorite defeated Haughty Vaquero by a length and the winning effort paid $2.40 on 1-9 odds.

Harken has five wins and one second from nine starts, and the $5,450 payday increased his earnings to $266,089. The son of 2025 leading sophomore sire Eye Am King has won the Mountain Top Futurity [G2], placed second in the Zia Futurity [G1], and was a finalist in the NM State Fair Futurity [G2] in his two-year-old campaign.

MJ Farms bred Harken in New Mexico. Out of Donelli by Big Daddy Cartel, he is a half-brother to the fastest qualifier, Daou. Trainer Jesus Soto saddled Harken for owner Alepony LLC.

CLICK HERE for complete details on the $158,060 added West Texas Derby [G3] trials, including horse, sex, sire, dam, dam sire, owner, breeder, trainer, and jockey. Finals are to be run on March 1, 2025.

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