Chile Gato, under champion jockey Francisco Calderon, posted the fastest time from 14 trials contest on Day 1 of the $3,000,0000 All American Futurity (G1) trials at The Downs at Albuquerque.

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By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—AUGUST 7, 2026—Chile Gato delivered a breakout performance Friday at The Downs at Albuquerque, posting the fastest qualifying time from the first day of trials for the world's richest Quarter Horse race, the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity.

Fourteen 440-yard trials were contested today, with the five fastest 2-year-olds earning berths in the September 7 final. Another 14 trials will be conducted on Saturday to determine the remaining five finalists. Labor Day's winner will walk away with a cool $1.5 million payday.

Making his first official Quarter Horse start, Chile Gato was dominating in the eighth trial, breaking sharply under champion jockey Francisco Calderon and cruising to a 1-1/4-length victory over Grade 1-placed Ask Her To Fly. His amazing 20.911 clocking produced a 102 speed index and easily stood as the fastest time of the afternoon.

The 2-year-old colt had made one previous start against Paints at Remington Park in April, finishing off the board. Friday's victory was his first Quarter Horse win and earned him $5,800.

Owned and bred in Texas by Omar Paredes, Chile Gato is trained by Jed H. Vane and was ridden by Francisco Calderon. The sorrel colt is by leading sire Chilitos from Famous Phoebe, by Dash Ta Fame.

Prior to today’s trials, four-time champion Heartswideopen held the fastest qualifying time in All American Futurity history, stopping the clock in 20.921 in 2007. Heartswideopen is out of Dashing Phobe, the champion daughter of Dash For Cash.

Today, Chile Gato rewrote the record books, blazing to a 20.911 clocking—the fastest All American Futurity trial ever. Adding another remarkable layer to the accomplishment, Chile Gato’s third dam is none other than Dashing Phobe.

Cowboys Flying turned in the second-fastest time of the day when he dominated the 14th and final trial in 21.019.

Cowboys Flying posted the second fastest time on Day 1.
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Despite breaking seventh, the heavily favored gelding quickly took command under jockey Nestor Duran and drew clear to win by 3 3/4 lengths, earning a 99 speed index. The Equibase race chart succinctly described his runaway effort as "blew 'em away."

"He didn’t break well, but after about fifty yards just took off," Nester said in the winner’s circle.

Supplemented to the trials, the two-time futurity winner owned by Double J Racing, Cowboys Flying, is trained by Ramiro Barajas Villarreal. Bred in Texas by Dr. Tommy Hays, the brown gelding is by leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 from Cartels Lady, by Carters Cartel.

Cowboys Flying, a $53,000 purchase at the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale, has won five-of-five career starts, including the $683,700 TQHA Sale Futurity(RG1), in his last start, and the $541,000 Texas Breeders' Futurity last May. He has banked over $562,000.

Grade 1-placed Ask Her To Fly punched her ticket to the All American Futurity despite finishing second to Chile Gato in the eighth trial.

Ask Her To Fly posted the third fastest time on Day 1.
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The Flying Cowboy 123 filly chased the eventual fastest qualifier throughout and finished 1 1/4 lengths behind Chile Gato, stopping the timer in 21.100 for the third-fastest qualifying time of Day 1.

Ask Her To Fly entered the trials as the second most accomplished member of Friday's five qualifiers. She has won three of seven starts with a second and a third and has earned $160,175. Earlier this season, she finished third in the Grade 1, $1 million Ruidoso Futurity and was a finalist in the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Futurity.

Owned by A. Randall Geiselman, Ask Her To Fly was bred in Oklahoma by Randy Geiselman. Jason L. Olmstead trains the filly, who was ridden Friday by Ramiro Haro Garcia. She is by Flying Cowboy 123 from Ask The Question, by Teller Cartel.

Just two-thousandths of a second separated the third- and fourth-fastest qualifiers, with Happy Flying Bird securing his spot after winning the second trial in 21.102.

Happy Flying Bird posted the fourth fastest time on Day 1.
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The chestnut gelding broke on top and was never headed, scoring by three-quarters of a length over Cyber Paint while earning a 97 speed index. The official chart credited Happy Flying Bird with "speed all the way."

Happy Flying Bird has now won two of four starts with one second and earnings of $93,380. He entered Friday's trials off a fourth-place finish in the Grade 1, $1 million Rainbow Futurity.

Owned by MRB Racing LLC, Happy Flying Bird was bred in Oklahoma by Jose Escobedo Hernandez. He is trained by Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez and was ridden by Gabriel Medrano. The gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 from Southernrunaway, by Southern Cartel, was a $65,000 purchase at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

Leaving London completed Friday's five qualifiers after breaking her maiden with an impressive victory in the fourth trial.

Leaving London posted the fifth fastest time on Day 1.
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With Sergio Becerra Jr. aboard, the filly quickly established command and went unchallenged to the wire, defeating Mr Cartel Favorite by 1 1/4 lengths in 21.109. The effort earned her a 97 speed index and the fifth-fastest time of Day 1.

The victory was the first in three starts for Leaving London, who entered the trials with two third-place finishes. She has earned $7,800.

Tungsten Racing Partnership owns Leaving London, who was bred in California by AQHA Champion Breeder Edward C. Allred. Omar Vargas trains the filly. She is by the leading sire Favorite Cartel, out of London Laura, by Walk Thru Fire.

Leaving London was a $160,000 purchase at the 2025 Los Alamitos Equine Sale Mixed Sale.

The first-day qualifiers, in order of time, were Chile Gato (:20.911), Cowboys Flying (:21.019), Ask Her to Fly (:21.100), Happy Flying Bird (:21.102) and Leaving London (:21.109).

Fourteen additional 440-yard trials will be contested Saturday at The Downs at Albuquerque, with the five fastest runners joining Friday's qualifiers in the 10-horse field for the Grade 1, $3 million All American Futurity on September 7.

CLICK HERE for a Day 1's list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

The second five fastest qualifiers from today are preferred invites to the $200,000 All American Juveniles, which will also run back on Labor Day, September 7. For a list of those horses, CLICK HERE.

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