Rue powers to the wire under jockey Kevin Carbajal to post the fastest qualifying time in the AQRA President’s Open Spring Derby trials at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ–MARCH 9, 2026–Trials for the AQRA President’s Open Spring Derby were held today at Turf Paradise, with sophomores competing for qualifying spots to the $20,000-added final.

Leading the qualifiers was Rue, who posted the fastest time of the day while winning her trial in :17.540 for 350 yards and earning a 96 speed index. The filly broke on top and was never headed, holding off challengers to cross the wire a neck in front.

Bred by William Smith, Rue races for J Lazy Six Racing and is trained by David John Williams with Kevin Carbajal aboard. A $60,000 graduate of the Heritage Place Yearling Sale, the filly is by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 and out of the Corona Cartel mare First Caroline Rose ($26,339), a full sister to stakes winner Ms First Prize Rose ($550,105), Coronado Cartel ($416,178), and Denver Pass ($120,994). Rue is also a half-sister to Relentless Rose ($31,300), who finished third in the All American Juvenile. Her female line traces back to AQHA Dam of Distinction and Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash.

Rue now holds a race record of 6-4-1-0 with earnings of $50,802. She captured last year’s AQRA Turf Paradise Open Spring Futurity and concluded her 2025 campaign with a runner-up finish in the AQRA Turf Paradise Juvenile Stakes.

Second-fastest qualifier RR Blues Man finished just behind Rue in the second trial, stopping the clock in :17.585 while posting a 94 speed index. Bred by Silver Racing Farm LLC, the gelding is owned by Ricardo Ramirez, trained by Rigoberto Guillen and ridden by Rodolfo Arvizu.

A $170,000 repurchase from the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, RR Blues Man is by leading sire Favorite Cartel and is a full brother to graded stakes winner Favorite Blues Man ($273,221). The gelding is out of the Mr Jess Perry mare Amore La Blue ($159,339), a Grade 1 stakes-placed runner. His second dam is World Champion and four-time champion Blues Girl Too ($2,032,328). RR Blues Man now holds a record of 8-2-2-1 with earnings of $21,356 as he continues to seek his first stakes victory.

RM Dulce Valiente secured the third-fastest qualifying time after stopping the clock in :17.625 and earning a 93 speed index. Bred by Kiowa Creek Performance Horses, the gelding is owned and trained by Heber Deyta-Melendez and was ridden by Brian Cobos Barraza. RM Dulce Valiente is by champion sire Valiant Hero and out of the Teller Cartel mare Teller Shes Sweet, a winning mare. He now holds a race record of 8-0-0-4 with earnings of $13,989, highlighted by a third-place finish in last year’s AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity.

Click HERE to see qualifier list.

The fastest qualifiers from the trials will return to Turf Paradise for the $20,000-added AQRA President’s Open Spring Derby final on March 30.

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