Last Eagle V recorded a 99 speed index while leading a one-two finish for Rancho Las Gaviotas in the $45,000 AQHA Hipodromo de las Americas Championship Challenge.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO–AUGUST 9, 2026–Last Eagle V recorded a 99 speed index while leading a one-two finish for Rancho Las Gaviotas in the $45,000 AQHA Hipodromo de las Americas Championship Challenge.

Ridden by Huberclein Gomez, Last Eagle V completed the 440 yards in :21.592 for trainer Alfredo Rabanal Salinas. The victory marked the third Challenge win of the season for Rancho Las Gaviotas, which also captured the John Deere Juvenile Challenge with RG A Candy Girl and the Adequan Derby Challenge with Phillybuster.

Last Eagle V has now won five of nine career starts with three additional placings and more than $321,000 in earnings.

Bred in the United States by Brian L. Gunder, the gelding is a $16,000 graduate of the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale. He is sired by Gold Heart Eagle V and out of the First Down Dash mare Ifuaitfirstulast.

Last Eagle V entered Sunday's Championship Challenge off a victory in the Derby Las Americas. Earlier this season, he finished second in the Adequan Derby Challenge.

His resume also 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 campaign. He opened his sophomore season with another fifth-place effort in the Mardi Gras Derby at Louisiana Downs before relocating to Mexico.

Stablemate Phillybuster finished second in :21.639, earning a 98 speed index and completing the Rancho Las Gaviotas exacta for trainer Alfredo Rabanal Salinas.

The 3-year-old gelding has won three of 13 career starts with three seconds and one third while earning nearly $61,000. Bred in the United States by MJ Farms, Phillybuster is by Apollitical Jess and out of the Rushago mare Ima China Rush.

Phillybuster sold for $97,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and was later repurchased for $30,000 at this year's Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

After spending his juvenile season competing in Louisiana, where he contested five futurity trials without advancing to a final, Phillybuster relocated to Mexico for his 3-year-old campaign. He opened the season with a fifth-place finish in the Easily A Possum Classic before breaking through with consecutive stakes victories in the AMCCCCM Derby and Adequan Derby Challenge. He followed those efforts with a runner-up finish in the Derby Las Americas before returning to finish second Sunday.

DK Crystal Favorite crossed the wire third in :21.658 for a 97 speed index, snapping a six-race winning streak for the accomplished filly.

Paul Osvaldo Rodriguez rode DK Crystal Favorite for owner Cuadra La Presita and trainer Luis Enrique Cruz Solis. Bred by La Presita LLC and LJM Ranch Inc., she is by Favorite Cartel and out of the Corona Cartel mare Corona Crystal.

DK Crystal Favorite has compiled eight wins, one second and two thirds from 11 career starts with earnings of approximately $105,000. Her six-race winning streak included victories in the Chirina Glorys Classic, Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge, Derby Las Americas and Adequan Derby Challenge.

Last season, DK Crystal Favorite was named American Champion Three-Year-Old Filly after a campaign highlighted by victories in the Las Americas Derby and Adequan Mexico Derby Challenge, along with a third-place finish in the Chirina Glorys Classic.

Blue On The Run finished fourth, followed by Eagle Dropping Fire in fifth.

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