Last Eagle V turned the tables Phillybuster to capture Sunday's $20,221 Derby De Las Americas at Hipódromo de las Américas.

© Miguel Angel Espinoza / Hipodromo de Las Américas

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MX–JULY 19, 2026–A rematch between the top three finishers from last month's Adequan Hipódromo de las Américas Derby Challenge produced nearly the same result Sunday, but with one important difference.

Last Eagle V reversed the outcome on rival Phillybuster, edging the Derby Challenge winner to capture the $20,221 Derby De Las Americas over 400 yards at Hipódromo de las Américas. Dark Water Bay completed the same 1-2-3 order from the Derby Challenge.

Stopping the timer in :19.26, Last Eagle V earned his fourth career victory while denying Phillybuster a third consecutive stakes win. Trained by Alfredo Rabanal Salinas and ridden by Huberclein Gomez, he entered the race off a second-place finish behind Phillybuster in the Adequan Hipódromo de las Américas Derby Challenge.

Coming from the U.S., his resume includes a victory in the Grade 2 Mardi Gras Futurity and a fifth-place finish in the Grade 1 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity during his 2-year-old season. He was also fifth in this year's Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs before relocating to Mexico.

The 3-year-old gelding by Gold Heart Eagle V races for Rancho Las Gaviotas. He was bred in the United States by Brian Gunder out of Ifuaintfirstulast by First Down Dash. A $16,000 graduate of the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale, Last Eagle V improved his record to four wins and three seconds from nine starts with earnings approaching $293,000.

Phillybuster, by Apollitical Jess out of Ima China Rush by Rushago, settled for second after seeing his two-stakes winning streak come to an end.

Trained by Alfredo Rabanal Salinas and ridden by Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo, Phillybuster captured both the Adequan Hipódromo de las Américas Derby Challenge and the AMCCCCM Classic this season after opening the year with a fifth-place finish in the Easily A Possum Classic.

The gelding spent his juvenile season competing in Louisiana, where he raced in five futurity trials but did not qualify to a final. The 3-year-old gelding also races for Rancho Las Gaviotas and was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms.

A $97,000 graduate of the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, Phillybuster was later repurchased for $30,000 at this year's Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. He has compiled a record of three wins, two seconds and one third from 12 starts with earnings nearing $48,000.

Dark Water Bay finished a close third for owner Cuadra Alpuyeca. The 3-year-old gelding by Mr Jess Perry was bred by Mike Vaughan out of Aqua Girl by Corona Cartel. Antonio Garcia Carranza trains the gelding, who was ridden by Alejandro Gomez Lopez.

Dark Water Bay finished second in the AMCCCCM Classic, third in the Adequan Hipódromo de las Américas Derby Challenge and fourth in the Easily A Possum Classic earlier this seeason.

The 2025 American Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding won the Alfredo Castro Rea Classic and Jodys Glory Classic during his championship campaign. He also finished second in the John Deere Mexico Juvenile Challenge, Juvenile Championship, Prize Classic and Las Americas Futurity.

A $77,000 graduate of the 2024 Ruidoso Yearling Sale, Dark Water Bay owns a record of three wins, five seconds and four thirds from 11 starts with earnings approaching $100,000.

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