London Bridge continued his strong form Friday evening at Sunland Park, winning his West Texas Derby (G3) trial to post the fastest qualifying time for the $65,000-added final.

© Coady Media

By StallioneSearch

SUNLAND PARK, NM—FEBRUARY 7, 2026— London Bridge continued his strong form Friday evening at Sunland Park, winning his West Texas Derby (G3) trial to post the fastest qualifying time for the $65,000-added final.

Ridden by Luis Valenzuela, London Bridge broke sharply and drew off to win the second of seven trials by 2 1/2 lengths, stopping the clock in 19.312 seconds for the 400 yards. The effort marked his third consecutive victory and improved his career record to 4-3-1-0 with earnings of $61,032.

Bred by Steve D. Burns, DVM, London Bridge is sired by Mental Error and out of the Foose mare No Arizona, a graded stakes-placed runner. A $47,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate, the gelding is owned by Lionel Zapata and trained by Andres Gonzalez. He captured last year’s AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity.

Faust secured the second-fastest qualifying spot after edging rivals by a neck in the opening trial. The gelding is bred by MJ Farms and is by all-time leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Astica, the champion mare by Jesse James Jr. whose résumé includes nine wins, five of them in stakes company, highlighted by a victory in the New Mexico Fillies and Mares Championship (G1). Running for Alepony, LLC, Faust was ridden by Jesse Lee Lavario and trained by Salvador Soto. The $165,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate now owns a career record of 8-2-4-0 with earnings of $87,089.

Regarding Jess finished second behind Faust in the same trial to claim the third-fastest qualifying time. Bred by Rolling Green Ranch, the colt is by champion sire Jess Good Candy and out of Ellens Regard, a stakes-placed mare by Chicks Regard who finished third in the Remington Park Oklahoma Bred Futurity. Owned by Carlos Martinez, Regarding Jess was a $19,000 purchase at the Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. He was ridden by Jacob Enriquez for trainer Joel Gonzales and now holds a record of 3-0-2-0 with earnings of $6,795.

The remaining order of qualifiers can be viewed HERE.

The finals of the West Texas Derby (G3) will be contested February 28 at Sunland Park.

*******************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.