Hott Temptation (#7) outdueled FDD Dreams (inside) to post the fastest time for the Grade 1 $926,200 Los Alamitos Super Derby Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–OCTOBER 19, 2025–PCQHRA and AQHA champion Lethal Cowboy 123 improved his record to a perfect six for six at Los Alamitos, while Reliance Ranches' Grade 1 winning filly Hott Temptation scored her fourth victory in a row, as the two talented sophomores highlighted Sunday's trials to the Grade 1, $926,200 Los Alamitos Super Derby.

Owned by Caliche Walls Venture LLC, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton, Lethal Cowboy 123 made winning look easy in the first of four Super Derby trials at 400 yards.

With Edwin Escobedo aboard for AQHA champion trainer Marc Jungers, the Flying Cowboy 123 gelding flew out of the gate from post position number five and cruised to a 1 ½ length victory from there, while covering the distance in the fourth fastest qualifying time of :19.619.

This was Lethal Cowboy 123's second win at Los Alamitos this year, as he previously won the Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap on August 23, During his juvenile campaign, Lethal Cowboy 123 won all four of his starts in Southern California, including the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity. Winning those two futurity wins served as the catalysts in Lethal Cowboy 123 being

Outtasyght, under jockey Armando Cervantes, posting the second fastest time in the second trial Sunday night.
© William Zuazo

named the 2024 PCQHRA Horse of the Year and the AQHA champion 2-year-old.

Lethal Cowboy 123 has now set his sight on California's richest derby. Set for Sunday, November 9, the Super Derby will carry a presumptive berth to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions to be held on December 13.

Lethal Cowboy 123 completely dominated his trial, as he took a 1 ¼ length lead shortly after the start and then he continued powerfully throughout while leading by as much as two lengths during the midway point of this race. For his career, the Veronical Gail Kawananakoa-bred runner has won 10 of 13 career starts

Champion Lethal Cowboy 123 winning the opening trial on Sunday night. © William Zuazo

"He loves California, it's pretty apparent," Jungers said. "He was a little anxious in the gate and that made a little concerned. When he left and got a good start, he looked impressive."

Jungers noted that winning the Sgt Pepper Feature was key in preparing his prized pupil for the Super Derby trials.

"That was an emotional deal, especially for him," Jungers added. "He had a bad experience in his All American Derby trial. It was the worst race he's ever had. It was not all his fault. The Sgt Pepper Feature was a confidence builder for him and for me. It set him up well and he looked impressive tonight. He was relaxed when he was running. He had a good stride and I kind of joked with Edwin. I asked, "What did he do? He ran off with you.' "

Veronical Gail Kawananakoa is the breeder of the Lethal Cowboy 123.

Impressive is a perfect way to describe Hott Temptation at Los Alamitos in 2025. Bred in Texas by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches, Hott Temptation won the La Pacifica Handicap earlier this year and after winning a trial to the Rainbow Oaks she has returned to California to win the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap over older mares before posting the fastest qualifying time for the Super Derby.

Devils Tower, under jockey Martin Arriaga, posted the fifth fastest time in the third trial on Sunday night.
© William Zuazo

Her victory in this trial may have been her best race of the season, as it came against the outstanding All American and Ruidoso Derby winner FDD Dreams.

Racing from the outside post seven, Hott Temptation trailed FDD Dreams by ¾ lengths past the midway point of this race. In the final 150 yards, Hott Temptation kicked it into her highest gear, flying to the wire to narrowly edge the multiple Grade 1 winning FDD Dreams by a nose. With Justine Klaiber up for Eddie Willis, Hott Temptation covered the distance in the fastest time of :19.572.

"She's done really good (at Los Alamitos)," Willis said. "Every time I've ran her here she's run a really good race. (FDD Dreams) is a really good horse. When she run him down like that, that's really saying something for her."

The trainer wasn't confident at first that his filly had caught her talented rival.

"I thought we ran second (at first) but the second time I watch it, I thought we had it," he added.

Bred in Texas, Hott Temptation is by Tempting Dash and out of the recently named Dam of Distinction Pandorum. She's now won seven of her 15 career starts. Her other good efforts in California this year include winning a trial to the Los Alamitos Oaks and running third to the veteran Brazilian mare Miss Isao Jqm.

Owned and bred by La Feliz Montana Ranch, FDD Dreams finished with the third fastest qualifying time of :19.577 in his first ever start at Los Alamitos. The son of FDD Dynasty improved his record to 10 wins in 15 career starts. Now that he has the experience of racing at Los Alamitos, FDD Dreams could be set up for an even better effort in the Super Derby final. Xavier Rodriguez saddled FDD Dreams, who was ridden by Luis Martinez.

Dunn Ranch's Outtasyght finished with the second fastest qualifying time of :19.575 after winning his trial by 1 ¾ lengths with Armando Cervantes up for trainer Ramiro Castillo. The gray gelding by Apollitical Jess broke on top, led by daylight early on and was never threatened from there to win for the fourth time in 10 starts.

The Super Derby will be only his third final after racing in the Los Alamitos Invitational Juvenile last year and winning the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes earlier this year.

 Gamaliel Garza Garcia's Devils Tower won the remaining trial after outdueling Jo Rae Burns' Astronomical 123 by a ½ length. Devils Tower was the lone qualifier from this trial after covering the distance in the fifth fastest time of :19.894. Martin Arriaga piloted the Favorite Cartel colt for trainer Juan Aleman. Steve Burns bred Devils Tower.  

For the complete list of Los Alamitos Super Derby qualifiers with times, breeding lines and connections CLICK HERE.

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