Dk Crystal Favorite, ridden by Nestor Duran, won the AQHA Distaff Challenge on Sunday at the Hipodromo de las Americas.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–MARCH 15, 2026–Heavy favorite Dk Crystal Favorite lived up to expectations by securing her fifth consecutive win in the $24,700 AQHA Distaff Challenge at the Hipódromo de las Américas on Sunday. Only four horses competed in the 400-yard stakes race, and they completed the race in the order they were positioned at the starting gate.

Jockey Nestor Duran was aboard Dk Crystal Favorite for the victory. From the inside lane, the duo crossed the wire in 19.84 seconds, defeating Dashing Bureaucracy, Shesa Luna Tach, and Fire Flys Higher, respectively.

Dk Crystal Favorite earned $13,832 for her first win of the season, boosting her lifetime earnings to nearly $80,000. The daughter of leading sire Favorite Cartel has lit the board in every out with seven wins, one second and one third from nine starts.

Dk Crystal Favorite earned the American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly title last year after winning the Las Americas Derby, Adequan Mexico Derby Challenge, and placing third in the Chirina Glorys Classic.

Bred by La Presita LLC and LJM Ranch Inc., Dk Crystal Favorite is out of the Coroan Cartel mare Corona Crystal. Trainer Luis Enrique Cruz Solis saddled the four-year-old filly for her owner, Cuadra La Presita.

Dashing Bureaucracy was the runner-up from the two-hole under jockey Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo. The daughter of One Dashing Eagle has yet to break her maiden with earnings of $12,000 in the bank. She is a five-time stakes finalist, including last year’s AQHA Juvenile Challenge, and this is her first time scoring black type status.

Bred in Louisiana, Dashing Bureaucracy was sold for $7,000 in the LQHBA Yearling Sale by her breeders, Aymond Bates, LLC, and Manuel Henry. Trainer Luis Aldo Flores Munoz conditions the three-year-old filly out of Bureaucracy B by Coronas Leaving You for owner Cuadra San Luis Aculco.

Shesa Luna Tach placed third under jockey Jesus Loredo. The daughter of leading second-year sire Dulce Sin Tacha has also yet to break her maiden for owner Cuadra JJ. The lightly raced filly has one second and two thirds from four starts with over $10,000 in earnings.

Bill Robbins bred Shesa Luna Tach in Oklahoma out of the First Moonflash mare My Moon Crest. She sold for $13,000 as a yearling at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, and then again for $13,500 in last year’s Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale. Leonilo Cruz trains the three-year-old filly as well as Fire Flys Higher, who placed fourth behind her stablemate.

Bred in Oklahoma by Darling Farms, Fire Flys Higher was ridden by Arturo Vega Moreno for owner Cuadra Santa Teresa. The three-year-old daughter of Eagles Fly Higher is out of Requested Fire by Walk Thru Fire.

***************

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.