Under champion jockey Francisco Calderon, House Of Lords posted the fastest trial time for the million-dollar All American Derby(G1) on Wednesday at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 6, 2025—A full afternoon of six trials for the $1,077,461 All American Derby (G1) unfolded today at The Downs at Albuquerque, producing a field of ten standout 3-year-olds who will return on Labor Day—Monday, September 1—to compete for the winner’s purse of $452,533.

The restricted Grade 1 classic is run over 440 yards and drew a top-class group of sophomores seeking one of the sport’s most coveted Derby wins. House Of Lords emerged as the fastest qualifier of the afternoon with a commanding performance.

Owned by Valeriano Racing Stables LLC, House Of Lords was brilliant in the fourth of six trials, drawing clear to win by 1¾ lengths while clocking the fastest qualifying time of 20.789, a 107 speed index.

Trained by Victor H. Rodriguez-Flores and ridden by champion jockey Francisco Calderon, the $65,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate was bred in Oklahoma by Buck Way Ranch LLC. The son of leading third-crop sire Flying Cowboy 123 is out of This Candys Okay, by Okey Dokey Dale.

Holy Pete, under jockey Ali Rivera, set the second fastest qualifying time Wednesday. © Coady Media

"I asked him about two times and we really got rolling," jockey Francisco Calderon said in the winner’s circle. "Sometimes this horse likes to play

House Of Lords will ride a four-race win streak into the Labor Day final, which includes the Grade 2 Heritage Place Derby at Remington Park in May and qualifying for the uncontested Grade 1 Rainbow QH Derby last month. He has banked $173,412 from seven wins in 11 starts.

Second-fastest qualifier Holy Pete delivered a sharp effort in the fifth trial for owner Zane Kiehne, stopping the timer in 20.910, a 105 speed index, under Ali Rivera.

Bobby Simmons bred the stakes-winning gelding in Texas, and John A. Stinebaugh trains him. By leading sire Favorite Cartel, Holy Pete is out of Suze Returns, a daughter of High Rate Of Return. He was a $100,000 purchase from the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. A winner of three of four of his last starts, including the $100,000 Ruidoso QH Invitational, could be a significant threat in the final.

Kj Born To Be Wild and jockey Noe Garcia, Jr., before posting the third-fastest qualifying time at The Downs Wednesday. © Coady Media

Making a strong late run in the seventh trial, Kj Born To Be Wild rallied to win by a nose over fellow qualifier and Grade 1 winner Fdd Dreams, recording the third-fastest time of 20.971, a 103 speed index.

The Arizona-bred gelding by Apollitical Jess is out of Kj Mustang Sally, by Valiant Hero. Owned by John and Kathy Lee and I. Ruben Mares, he is trained by Wesley T. Giles and was ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. The homebred was sixth in the Ruidoso QH Derby(G1) in June and sixth in the Texas Classic Futurity(G1) last fall. He has earned $107,377.

Just a neck behind him in that same trial, Fdd Dreams finished a game second in 20.976, also a 103 speed idex, to secure the fourth-fastest qualifying spot. The gelding is by four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Treasured Dreams, a daughter of Apollitical Jess.

Multiple Grade 1 winner FDD Dreams finished second in his trial to Kj Born To Be Wild on Wednesday at The Downs.
© Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch

He races for and was bred in New Mexico by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC. Xavier E. Rodriguez trains, and Luis Martinez had the mount. Suffering his first loss in six starts, his resume includes winning the Ruidoso QH Derby(G1) and the Texas Classic Futurity(G1), as well as second in the Rainbow QH Futurity(G1) and third All American Futurity(G1). On the board in 12 of 13 starts, he has earned $1,230,489 and should be the one to beat on Labor Day!

The ten fastest qualifiers from today’s six trials will return for the September 1 final, where the purse distribution will award $24,242 to the horse finishing tenth. CLICK HERE for the All American Derby(G1) qualifiers list with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.

The second 10 fastest qualifiers from today's trials are preferred invites to the $100,000 All American Invitational that will also run back on Monday, September 1. For a list of those horses, CLICK HERE.

Stay tuned to StallioneSearch for complete coverage and final draw updates as the countdown to Labor Day’s $1 million-plus All American Derby continues.

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