Toastin Heros delivered a determined performance Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park, digging in late to score a mild upset in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) at 440 yards.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 7, 2026— Toastin Heros delivered a determined performance Saturday afternoon at Sunland Park, digging in late to score a mild upset in the $350,000 Championship at Sunland Park (G1) at 440 yards.

Ridden by Jacob Enriquez, Toastin Heros showed early speed and took command shortly after the break, then held off a strong late rally from multiple graded stakes winner RC Corona King to prevail by a neck. The sorrel gelding stopped the clock in 21.154 seconds, earning a speed index of 99 over a fast track. 

A homebred for Gene Cox, Toastin Heros is trained by Clinton Crawford and is sired by champion sire Valiant Hero, a sire of more than $32.1 million with 529 winners, including 66 stakes winners. He is out of Toastin With Coronas, a stakes-placed mare by Coronas Leaving You who placed in the Louisiana Champions Day Derby (G2) and French Quarter Stakes and was also a Grade 1 finalist. Already an established stakes performer, Toastin Heros captured last year’s La Fiesta Derby and was a finalist in the 2025 Remington Park Derby (G1), Heritage Place Derby (G2), and West Texas Derby (G3). The $157,000 winner’s share boosted his lifetime earnings to $344,647 and improved his career record to 16-7-4-0.

RC Corona King finished a fast-closing second under Sergio Dominguez for owner Jose R. Riojas and trainer Gerardo Quinonez. The gelding is by leading sire Eye Am King and out of Classyoddsofdeefirst, by Deefirst. A multiple Grade 1 winner, RC Corona King now owns a career record of 28-8-6-4 with earnings of $706,199. Among his victories are the Downs at Albuquerque Fall Championship (G1) and the New Mexico Classic Championship (G1).

Recently crowned World Champion FDD Dreams completed the trifecta in her seasonal debut. Ridden by Luis Martinez, the filly is owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC and trained by Xavier Rodriguez. FDD Dreams wrapped up her 2025 campaign with a victory in the Champion of Champions (G1) and owns additional wins in the All American Derby (G1), Ruidoso Derby (G1), and Texas Classic Futurity (G1). She now holds a record of 18-10-4-2 with earnings of $2,183,835.

Toastin Heros returned $28.00 to win, $13.00 to place, and $6.60 to show. RC Corona King paid $9.60 and $4.40, while FDD Dreams returned $3.20 to show. The $1 exacta paid $243.90, the $1 trifecta returned $837.50, and the 10-cent superfecta paid $603.38.

Shakers No Secret, KJ Desparado, Karmalites, Hooked N Gone, Eagle Aye, Boot Scoots, and KJ Born To Be Wild completed the order of finish. Apollitical Boogie J and Nori were scratched.

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