Cmhowaboutthemcowboy and jockey Armando Viramontes upset the field at odds of 10-1 while capturing the $34,782 Adequan California Derby Challenge on May 17 at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–MAY 18, 2026— While all eyes were on heavy 1-5 favorite Cm Jessa Blue Monday, it was her stablemate, Cmhowaboutthemcowboy, who stole the spotlight on Sunday night at Los Alamitos. Pulling a 10-1 upset, the eligible maiden came through in the final yards for his first career victory in seven starts to win the $34,782 Adequan California Derby Challenge.

The thrilling victory secured what figured to be an expected result in this race, owner Randy Dickerson and trainer Luke Lindsey holding the Adequan California Derby trophy. The racing team of Dickerson and Lindsey entered the 400-yard feature with a powerhouse three-horse entry in this race.

The drama began before the gates even opened, as the heavily favored Cm Jessa Blue Monday broke through the front of her stall prior to the start. After being safely unloaded, examined, and reloaded into the outside post, she still turned in a resilient effort to finish a solid third.

The winning connections of Cmhowabouthemcowboy accept the $34,782 Adequan California Derby Challenge trophy at Los Alamitos on Sunday.© William Zuazo

Meanwhile, Cmhowaboutthemcowboy took full advantage of a clean trip. Guided by jockey Armando Viramontes, the gelded son of Flying Cowboy 123 was fourth at the start but gained ground with every single stride. Showing grit in the final yards, he outdueled multiple stakes winner Jess F Y I by a nose at the wire.

The Dickerson homebred stopped the clock in :20.131, earning a $17,391 paycheck while punching his ticket to the Adequan Derby Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque on October 17.

"She was fine," trainer Luke Lindsey said of CM Jessa Blue Monday's pre-race gate incident. "We get them all ready to win and to still have a chance in case something like that happens. We knew [Cmhowaboutthemcowboy] could run and thought he could go the distance. He's been getting in a lot of trouble, but tonight he had a clear shot and just kept going."

For Dickerson, a prominent Pacific Northwest owner and breeder, the victory added another chapter to a highly successful breeding program. Cmhowaboutthemcowboy is out of the mare Mi Fames A Dandy.

“He's out of a good mare that we had, and she's produced a lot of winners for us," Dickerson said. "My wife and I have been blessed to be able to be out here at Los Alamitos. We have some nice horses and Luke has been doing a tremendous job. CM Jessa Blue Monday got us our first Grade 1 placing and Luke loved her from the first moment we went out and saw her when she was being broke. He said, 'Hey, we got one.' She's proven to be. When she had her shot (in the Oaks), she's taken it."

Dickerson has been a fixture in the sport since 1997. Following Sunday's feature win, his stable has amassed 71 Quarter Horse victories from 410 starters, with total career earnings climbing to $601,653. Two of his top runners over the years are Cm Boom Shakalaka and Cm Got Overserved, and both are siblings to Cmhowaboutthemcowboy. Cm Boom Shakalaka won the Dillingham and James Smith Handicaps at Los Alamitos, while Cm Got Overserved is a multiple stakes winner of 15 races and nearly $99,792.

Michael McKay's Jess F Y I, trained by Hector Magallanes, settled for second-place finish and earnings of $7,478. The son of Gold Heart Eagle V has finished in the money in seven of nine starts. Ricardo Ramirez piloted the Hector Magallanes trainee, who won the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass and John Deere Juvenile Challenge at Emerald Downs last year. With Ruben Lozano up, Cm Jessa Blue Monday finished third and was followed by HM Tellum Sweetly, Cmtellumwhereyagotit, and Flying Female.

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