Notoryous posted the fastest time from three trials on Sunday for the $126,300 Gillespie County Fair Derby Sunday afternoon at the Gillespie County Fairground.

© Jenny Barton

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

FREDERICKSBURG, TX—AUGUST 16, 2026—Notoryous turned in a commanding performance Sunday afternoon at the Gillespie County Fairgrounds, posting the fastest time from three 350-yard trials conducted to determine the 10 finalists for the $126,300 Gillespie County Fair Derby on August 30.

Notoryous stopped the timer in 17.637 while winning the second trial by a half-length over Toby Two, who recorded the second-fastest qualifying time of :17.746. The trials were conducted over a fast racing surface on a, 97-degree afternoon with a 12 mph headwind.

Breaking sharply under leading jockey Nestor Duran, Notoryous went immediately to the front and never relinquished the advantage. The gray colt held a three-quarter-length advantage late before finishing a half-length in front while racing comfortably to the wire.

Trainer Samuel Mendoza conditions the son of multiple stakes sire One Famous Eagle for owner LA Racing Stables LLC. Bobby D. Cox bred Notoryous in Texas from the multiple stakes producing Mr Eye Opener mare Eye Popping.

A $300,000 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate in 2024, Notoryous has compiled two wins and five seconds from eight career starts and has earned $47,955. Notoryous was runner-up in the Ah High Stakes and finished fourth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Toby Two overcame trouble at the start to secure the second-fastest qualifying spot. The Favorite Cartel colt stumbled leaving post eight but quickly recovered under jockey Claudio Ponce Aguilar. Sixth away, he advanced to second late and finished strongly to get within a half-length of Notoryous at the wire in 17.746.

Jimmy W. Guerra trains Toby Two for owner Alfredo Garza Rodriguez. Bred in California by Edward C. Allred, Toby Two is out of the Walk Thru Fire mare London Laura. He is a full brother to Leaving London, a 2026 Grade 1 $3,000,000 All American Futurity finalist.

A $125,000 graduate of the 2024 Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Toby Two has one win, two seconds and one third from six career starts with earnings of $28,573. He was also a finalist in the Grade 3 Oklahoma Derby.

Mako Shark Watters won the opening trial in :17.912. The Muddy Watters gelding broke on top and drew clear before cruising home one length in front.

El Derecho captured the third and final trial in :17.846, the fifth-fastest qualifying time. Ridden by Luis L. Vivanco, the Freighttrain B gelding took command during the race and inched away to score by a half-length.

The 10 finalists, in order of qualifying time, are Notoryous (:17.637), Toby Two (:17.746), Docs Magic Card (:17.768), Prey N Corona (:17.807), El Derecho (:17.846), Shot Of Takillya (:17.890), Mako Shark Watters (:17.912), Coweta Corona (:17.914), Texas Bolt 23 (:17.920) and Giocosa (:17.928).

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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