Phillybuster, under Mario Alberto López Marmolejo, captured his first career stakes victory in the $22,500 AMCCCCM Derby at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Sunday.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO–MAY 10, 2026–Phillybuster took advantage of the absence of Easily A Possum Classic winner CCB Rich Ranch Boy and delivered a breakthrough performance in the $22,500 Mexican Association of Quarter Horse Breeders and Owners (AMCCCCM) Classic, the second leg of the Mexico Quarter Horse Derby Triple Crown, on Sunday.

The chestnut gelding from Rancho Las Gaviotas covered the 400 yards in 19.45 seconds, clocking a 99 speed index, under Mario Alberto López Marmolejo to secure his first career stakes victory and earn the $11,250 winner’s share of the purse.

Breaking alertly and racing close to the outside rail throughout, Phillybuster held off heavy favorite Dark Water Bay to return $4.30 to win. Trained by Alfredo Rabanal, the three-year-old gelding improved his record to two wins from 10 starts and boosted his earnings to $21,550. Earlier this season, he finished fifth in the Easily A Possum Classic, the opening leg of the Derby Triple Crown.

The winning connections of Phillybuster accept the AMCCCCM Classic trophy at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Sunday. © Luis Prieto Zamudio

Phillybuster is by leading sire Apollitical Jess. He is out of Ima China Rush by Rushago and was bred by MJ Farms.

The gelding brought $97,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, and the AMCCCCM Derby marked his first black-type victory.

Dark Water Bay continued his hard-knocking campaign with another runner-up effort. The Oklahoma-bred colt has now finished on the board in nine of 10 career starts with a record of three wins, five seconds and one third while banking $92,500. Trained by Antonio Garcia for owner Cuadra Alpuyeca, Dark Water Bay entered the race off a fourth-place finish in the Easily A Possum Classic.

Last season, Dark Water Bay captured the Jody’s Glory Classic and Alfredo Castro Rea Classic while also finishing second in the John Deere Juvenile Challenge, Prize Classic, and Juvenile Championship. Those performances earned him American Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding honors in 2025.

The son of Mr Jess Perry was bred in Oklahoma by Mike Vaughan. He is out of Aqua Girl by Corona Cartel and sold for $77,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Apolitically Fast earned his first stakes placing with a third-place finish while still searching for his maiden victory. The lightly raced runner has now made four career starts and increased his earnings to $14,400 with the effort.

Apolitically Fast is also owned by Cuadra Alpuyeca and trained by Antonio Garcia. Bred in Oklahoma by Larry Marcum and Nancy Wells, the filly sold for $78,000 at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Dulce Sensacion finished fourth, followed by Blue On The Run in fifth.

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