BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

PHOENIX, AZ–NOVEMBER 28, 2022–Favorite Blues Man, a graded stakes winning California-bred son of Favorite Cartel racing for Ricardo M. Ramirez, is one of 29 3-year-olds entered in Thursday's 400-yard AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby trials at Turf Paradise Racetrack.

Favorite Blues Man ships in from Texas, where he won two of three starts, including the 400-yard, $153,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G2) at Lone Star Park on October 1. The gelding drew post 7 and will be ridden by Kevin Carbajal for trainer Alex Torres-Casas in the first of three trials.

Favorite Blues Man's eight opponents in the first heat include High Flying Hero, a graded stakes placed Valiant Hero gelding trained by Jesus Carrete for owner Arturo Cervantes. High Flying Hero is coming off of a second-place finish, a head behind winner Hesa Party Wagon, in the October 9, $75,000 James Isaac Hobbs Stakes (G2) at Zia Park.

High Flying Hero drew post 8 and will be ridden by Agustin Silva.

Other prominent 3-year-olds entered in Thursday's trials include Mister Bigg, a multiple stakes winning Big Daddy Cartel gelding owned by Diego Creus and trained by Heraclio Botello. Mister Bigg is coming off of victories in the August 27, $54,000 Arizona Downs Derby, and the November 12, $26,000 Desert Classic Derby at Turf Paradise.

Mister Bigg drew post 2 and will be ridden by Mark Jasso in the second trial.

The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the December 22, $60,288 AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby final.

All Turf Paradise races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.