Fastest Qualifier Doodah Cartel Heads Grade 1, $202,500 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–FEBRUARY 11, 2026– Quarter Horse racing is a game of inches and split-second decisions. As the gate opens this Saturday, February 14, for the Grade 1, $202,500 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, the field will be led by a colt that proved just how much ground can be made up in a matter of seconds: Doodah Cartel.

Owned by Thompson Racing, Inc., Alexis Andrade, and Paul Jones, Doodah Cartel enters the 400-yard final as the horse to beat following a remarkable trial performance in which he turned a rough start into a masterpiece. The early part of his trial saw him bumped twice and shuffled to the back of the pack, but the Favorite Cartel colt recovered to reel in the field and post the fastest qualifying time of :19.899. Henry Reynoso Lopez will pilot Doodah Cartel from post five.

Every one of the talented colt’s efforts are special for his connections, as Doodah Cartel is named in honor of Debbie Thompson's father, Bernie Erickson, who passed away in 2024; "Doodah" was Bernie’s favorite saying. Trainer Paul Jones, who described the trial recovery as a "one in a million" effort, is the record holder in this race with four Winter Derby wins, his most recent coming in 2012 with Kobe.

While Doodah Cartel brings the speed, the calendar offers a fitting storyline for another top contender. How appropriate would it be for SM My Valentine to find the winner’s circle on Valentine’s Day? Trained by Adan Farias for owners Santos Montemayor and Omar Torres, the Kiss My Hocks gelding is already a major stakes winner at this track, having secured the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last season. SM My Valentine looked sharp in his trial victory, leading most of the way to secure his spot in the final. Eduardo Nicasio will ride SM My Valentine from the outside post nine.

Another emotional storyline belongs to SG Jacob Jay, who runs in honor of the late Jacob Jay Giles. The Utah horseman passed away in late October 2023, and the Favorite Cartel colt was named to carry on his legacy. After outdueling his rivals in the trials to post the third-fastest qualifying time, SG Jacob Jay carries the hopes of the Giles family, who will be in attendance to see if their colt can win one more for "The Big Guy." With SM My Valentine and SG Jacob Jay representing his barn, Farias looks to add to his two previous Winter Derby wins (2007-08). Jesus Rios Ayala will be aboard from post number seven.

The 400-yard final features a deep field of challengers. Kelly Castaneda trains LA Racing Stables LLC’s Notoryous, a One Famous Eagle colt who has posted consistently solid efforts at the Orange County oval. Second-fastest qualifier Surprise Temptation, who missed beating Doodah Cartel by only a nose, was not entered back in the derby final.

Trainer Jesus Nunez will saddle a powerful duo led by Politician V, who ran a game second to SM My Valentine in their trial, and Two Million Juvenile Invitational winner Jarvis V, who finished second to SG Jacob Jay on trials night. Sergio Morfin also has a strong pair for this race, including Eleazar Gonzalez’s Shinning Favorite, a trial winner at 10-1 odds.

Morfin’s other sophomore is Walk When I Walk, who was owned by Barry Woodhouse, a Los Alamitos mainstay since the early 1970s. Woodhouse passed away on January 12, and his celebration of life was held the same day Walk When I Walk qualified for this final. Woodhouse trained at the Cypress track from 1972 to 1998, famously conditioning Shawnes Diamond to a victory over the legendary Refrigerator in the 1992 Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap. Over the last decade, he remained a prominent owner of top stakes runners.

Completing this Valentine’s Day showcase is Ronnie Brooks Keller’s Got You Figured, who will look to spoil the favorites' hopes for trainer Mike Casselman.Here’s the field from the rail out: Notoryous, Jarvis V, Shinning Favorite, Got You Figured, Doodah Cartel, Walk When I Walk, SG Jacob Jay, Politician V and SM My Valentine.

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