Talk Of The Bar (#7) holds off Dark Water Bay (#4) win the $18,000 Futurity Las Américas on Sunday at Hipódromo de las Américas under jockey Hugo Montes de Oca.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–NOVEMBER 2, 2025–It came down to a photo finish on Sunday in the $18,000 Futurity Las Américas at Hipódromo de las Américas as Talk Of The Bar defeated heavy favorite Dark Water Bay by a neck in a slight upset.

Ridden by Hugo Montes de Oca—who celebrated the first stakes win of his career— Talk Of The Bar covered the 400-yard distance in :19.95 seconds, earning the Kansas-bred gelding an 84 speed index.

The winning connections of Talk Of The Bar accept the Futurity Las Americas trophy at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Sunday. © Luis Prieto Zamudio

Talk Of The Bar remains undefeated in two lifetime starts. The Kansas-bred son of This Is An Eagle is owned by Cuadra C R T and trained by Octavio Ivan Becerra Aguila.

He was bred by Mary G. Thompson and is out of Five Bar Toast by Five Bar Cartel. A $9,000 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Talk Of The Bar’s maiden win came in July, and Sunday’s victory boosted his earnings to $11,500.

Dark Water Bay finished second, a neck behind the winner. The Oklahoma-bred colt has finished on the board in all seven career starts, posting three victories with earnings over $71,000. His three-race win streak ended on Sunday with his runner-up finish.

Earlier this year, Dark Water Bay captured both the Alfredo Castro Rea Classic and the Jody’s Glory Classic, and he also finished second in the AQHA Juvenile Challenge and The Prize Classic. He is currently recognized as the leading two-year-old American-bred runner in Mexico.

The son of Mr Jess Perry is out of Aqua Girl by Corona Cartel and was bred by Mike Vaughan. He was purchased for $77,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Antonio Garcia Carranza trains Dark Water Bay for Cuadra Alpuyeca, and Heriberto Camacho rode the colt.

Rr Gallant Lew finished third in his career debut, another neck back of the runner-up. The Oklahoma-bred colt is by Big Lew and out of First Prize Chic by Country Chicks Man.

Rr Gallant Lew is owned by Cuadra El Forastero, trained by Alejandro Garcia Reyes, and ridden by Arturo Vega Moreno. Reliance Ranches LLC of Oklahoma bred the colt, who sold for $16,000 in the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Rounding out the order of finish were Cinderella Snapped in fourth, followed by Sjm Cowboy Desires, One Famous Temptaton, and Apollitical Tool.

Watch the win video below:
 

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