2023 AQHA Champion Cowboys Gun Z is one of 38 sophomores to enter the Texas Classic Derby at Lone Star Park on Saturday.

© Ernesto Salinas/ StallioneSearch.com

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

GRAND PRAIRIE, TX–OCTOBER 23, 2024–West Texas Racing Partners’ Cowboys Gun Z, a gelded son of Flying Cowboy 123 and last year’s champion 2-year-old, will make his next start in Saturday’s 440-yard Texas Classic Derby (G1) trials at Lone Star Park.

Thirty-eight 3-year-olds are entered in four heats. The 10 fastest qualifiers will meet in the $400,000-est. final on November 16.

Cowboys Gun Z is coming off of a seventh-place finish, three lengths behind the winner Dashing Tres, in the 440-yard, $1.041-million All American Derby G1 on September 2. However, the bay gelding and $125,000 purchase at the ‘22 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale has won three of his five starts at the classic quarter-mile distance, including last year’s $3-million All American Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Cowboys Gun Z drew the rail post and will be ridden by Ricky Ramirez for trainer Mike Joiner in the fourth trial. 

Fire Cowboy, a multiple graded stakes winning son of Flying Cowboy 123, has earned $147,744 from five races this season, and his four wins include a wire-to-wire, 1 1/2-length victory in the 350-yard, $280,000 Sam Houston Derby (G3) on June 15. Juan Diaz Jr. trains the sorrel gelding for owner Emmanuel Villarreal.

Fire Cowboy was a $22,000 yearling buy at the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. The gelding drew post 4 and will be ridden by Victor Urieta Jr. in the first heat.

Other prominent sophomores entered in Saturday’s trials include Relentless Eagle, a graded stakes winning son of champion Hes Relentless trained by Marc Jungers for owner Lance Bland. A $100,000 purchase at the ‘22 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, the bay gelding is coming off of a neck victory in the October 5, $177,000 Dash For Cash Derby (G2) at Lone Star Park.

Relentless Eagle drew post 6 and will be ridden by Christian Ramos in the fourth trial.

The Texas Classic Derby trials, and all Lone Star Park races, can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.