Alitlesstalk winning the 2025 $61,000 Arizona QRA Futurity.

© Coady Media

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

PHOENIX, AZ–FEBRUARY 17, 2026—The Saturday afternoon card at Turf Paradise features an eight-race program highlighted by the $35,000 Desert Classic Derby, a 350-yard dash that has drawn ten promising three-year-olds. The Derby, scheduled as the second race on the card with a projected post time of approximately 1:45 p.m., brings together the highest-earning qualifying stallions and geldings in what shapes up as a competitive early-season test.

Alitlelesstalk installed as morning-line favorite. Leading the field at 3-1 on the morning line is Alitlelesstalk, who closed out his two-year-old season in impressive fashion with a victory in the $61,000 Arizona QRA Futurity. A three-time winner with earnings of $79,657, the Arizona-bred gelding looks poised to launch his Derby campaign with another strong performance.

Owned and bred in Arizona by Ralph and Carolyn Fales, Alitlelesstalk is a gelded son of Tell Cartel out of Jess One Looke by Jesse James Jr. Conditioned by Matthew Fales, he will break from post seven under regular rider Luis A. Valenzuela. With proven stakes credentials and tactical speed, he looms the one to beat.

Mw Wishin For a Daddy seeks a breakthrough as the second choice on the morning line at 4-1 is Mw Wishin For a Daddy, who ships in with an opportunity to shed her maiden status. Though winless in her juvenile campaign, the filly endured a series of troubled trips and exits a January 9 effort in which she showed improved composure despite finishing empty late.

Sired by Big Daddy Cartel and out of One to Wish For by Woodbridge, Mw Wishin For a Daddy was bred in New Mexico by Larry K. Marcum and Nancy Wells. She was purchased for $25,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale by Jose Aguilar Mendoza. Trained by Diego Cervantes, she will depart from post nine with Bryan Candanosa in the irons. A cleaner break could make her a major factor in the short sprint.

Zm Jess draws rail, looms as an upset threat from the rail position. A colt with the potential to upset the top choices. He entered off a narrow second-place finish while attempting to break his maiden and concluded last season with a solid third-place effort in the Arizona QRA Futurity, finishing behind Alitlelesstalk.

A son of Jess Different out of Jess a Blue Tac by Jess Louisiana Blue, Zm Jess was bred by Francisco Molina and races for owner Jose Juan Martinez. Trainer Havid Canez gives a leg up to jockey Cerapio Figueroa, who will look to take advantage of the inside draw and guide the colt to a driving finish.

Derby dreams begin with ten talented three-year-olds set to contest the 350-yard sprint, the $35,000 Desert Classic Derby offers a compelling early benchmark for the division at Turf Paradise. Proven stakes form, promising maiden potential, and favorable post positions all converge Saturday afternoon, setting the stage for a fast and fiercely contested renewal of this Desert Classic.

The Turf Paradise races can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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

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