Norco (#4) held off Outtasyght (#8) Sunday night to win the Grade 1 $926,200 Los Alamitos Super Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–NOVEMBER 9, 2025–Sent off at odds of 57-1, Ed Allred's Norco scored the biggest upset of the season when the son of leading sire Favorite Cartel defeated a stacked field of stars in California's richest derby, the Grade 1, $926,200 Los Alamitos Super Derby on Sunday night.

Norco's victory wasn't the biggest upset just because it came in a stakes race. His win payout of $116.20 was the highest in any race of any breed contested during the nighttime meet at the Orange County oval in 2025.

Norco's victory came against a field headed by the reigning PCQHRA Horse of the Year Lethal Cowboy 123, who entered the Super Derby with a flawless record of six wins from as many starts at Los Alamitos.

Norco also defeated All American Derby(G1) and Ruidoso Derby(G1) winner FDD Dreams as well as the Champion of Champions(G1) bound filly Hott Temptation, who in her last two starts posted the fastest qualifying time to the Super Derby and before that defeated aged mares in the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap.

The winning connections headed by Gabriel Lara and Scott Willoughby are joined by Ben and Christine Hudson.
© William Zuazo

Ridden by Gabriel Lara and saddled by Scott Willoughby, Norco's unforgettable night began with his breaking sharply from post number four, taking the lead after the first 50 yards or so, and then holding off with great determination the challenge of Dunn Ranch's Outtasyght.

 Norco crossed the wire ahead in front of Outtasyght with Hott Temptation running a strong third from post number six.

In winning for the third time in his nine career starts, the Allred-bred Norco covered the 400-yard distance in 19.591, while earning $375,564 for the win. Norco, whose dam is the multiple stakes winner Moonlight Corona, has now earned $458,773 in his career. The victory also earned him a presumptive berth to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions at 440 yards to be held here on Saturday, December 13.

Norco, under jockey Gabriel Lara, returns after winning the 2025 Los Alamitos Super Derby. © William Zuazo

From a historical perspective, Norco's victory is among the biggest upsets in the history of the Los Alamitos Super Derby, ranking right up there with Little Bit Of Baja surprising at 32-1 odds a field that included All American Futurity winner No Secrets Here and future Champion of Champions winners Blues Girl Too and Jess You And I in 2007.

From a pure odds perspective, Norco's $116.20 winning payout is the largest in this race since the Tom Bazley-trained Newmont posted a shocking win and returned $92 for the win in the 1990 Los Alamitos Super Derby. Marmet in the 2001 Super Derby and Sheza First Down in the 1994 Super Derby – both winners at 35-1 odds, are among the other unexpected winners of a derby that has had its share of flabbergasting wins.

While Norco's victory was a surprise to many, his connections knew that the talent was there for him to deliver on the big stage. His mother, Moonlight Corona, often impressed with her quickness while posting five wins during her career. A daughter of Corona Cartel, Moonlight Corona is a half-sister of two-time AQHA champion and Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity winner Your First Moon ($750,726).

As a broodmare, Moonlight Corona produced the multiple Grade 1 winner Circle City, who earned $571,082, the two-time Grade 2 winner Nomadic, who banked $376,134, and the Grade 1 winner Not A Full Moon, whose exploits earned him $271,962. Norco is a full brother of both Circle City and Nomadic.

As a 2-year-old, Norco began his career with a 2 ½ length maiden victory. He then posted a 1 ¾ length win in his Ed Burke Million Futurity trial to qualify for the million-dollar final.

Seventh in the final after a troubled start, Norco only raced one other time in 2024, running second in his trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million.

The Super Derby was only his fifth start and first victory of the year. He did run a solid fourth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby in mid-February. Norco ran third to Outtasyght in their Super Derby trial, but his strong acceleration after his good start took him to victory in the Super Derby.

"He sat on him all year pretty much," Willoughby said. "He was a little sick earlier this year, so we sat on him and got him right. He had a good race in the trials, and it set him up perfect for the final. He broke and never quit. He had some problems as a 2-year-old, so we backed off. As a 3-year-old, it worked out.

"There were some great horses in this race. Honestly, I thought our horse could be right there. I didn't know if we could win it or not. I thought we could be in the top three and he proved himself right. He got a little rest under him, and it did him fine. He sure felt good today. (Allred) called me this morning about him. The horse was doing great, and I told him that. I told him we had a shot. I didn't say that we could win it, but I thought we had a shot."

For Allred, who is Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading owner, this is his second Super Derby win following Foose's victory in 2009. For Willoughby and Lara, this is their first Super Derby win.

"He left the gate great," said Lara, the winner of the 2024 Val Tonks Award given to the top up-and-coming Quarter Horse rider at Los Alamitos. "I felt like we were winning, and he held on. He gave it his all. The horse warmed up beautifully. He was relaxed, focused, and he went in the gate great. He had a great start, and we were gone. It's a thrill. I'm thankful for Scott and the boss, Dr. Allred."

Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Ramiro Castillo, Outtasyght earned $152,014 for his runner-up effort in the Super Derby. The gelding by leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Poppin entered this race having won three in a row at Los Alamitos. His string of wins included the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes on February 23.

The Bobby Cox-bred runner has earned $221,548 in 11 career starts. Dunn Ranch paid $320,000 for him at the 2023 Heritage Place Yaerling Sale in Oklahoma City.

Owned by Reliance Ranches, Hott Temptation earned $107,304 for finishing third to take her career earnings to $356,696. Justine Klaiber piloted her for trainer Eddie Willis.

There were two millionaires in this race in Lethal Cowboy 123 and FDD Dreams. Owned by Caliche Walls Venture, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton, Lethal Cowboy 123 earned $62,594 for running fourth to take his career earnings to $1,426,127.

He was fifth at the start, moved up to fourth soon after, but never moved past the top three from there.

La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC's FDD Dreams stumbled at the start, recovered gamely, worked hard from there, and moved up from 10th to finish sixth. He earned $44,710, bringing his career earnings to $1,801,835. Trained by Xavier Rodriguez and ridden by Luis Martinez, FDD Dreams has a berth to the Champion of Champions thanks to his victory in the All American Derby at The Downs at Albuquerque.

dFinishing fifth in between the two millionaires was Gamaliel Garza Garcia's Devils Tower, who ran solidly from the outside post number 10 to earn $53,652 for his effort. Devils Tower has career earnings of $412,106.

Here's the complete order of finish: Norco, Outtasyght, Hott Temptation, Lethal Cowboy 123, Devils Tower, FDD Dreams, Show N Tell Cartel, Curl Happy Wagon, Racy Favorite, and Fire Tools 123.

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