London Bridge will chase his second career stakes victory Saturday as the 4-to-1 morning-line favorite in the $190,212 West Texas Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

© Coady Media

By Eric Alwan

SUNLAND PARK, NM–FEBRUARY 23, 2026– London Bridge will chase his second career stakes victory Saturday as the 4-to-1 morning-line favorite in the $190,212 West Texas Derby at Sunland Park Racetrack and Casino.

The 62nd edition of the Grade 3 event features a 440-yard dash for 3-year-olds. London Bridge, a California-bred son of Mental Error, enters the final as the fastest qualifier following the Feb. 7 trials.

Trained by Andres Gonzales for owner Lionel Zapata, the colt has won three of his four career starts. His resume includes a victory in the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Futurity on Dec. 22. To date, London Bridge has amassed more than $61,000 in earnings.

Jockey Luis Valenzuela will be in the irons for the derby, which is carded as the eighth race on a nine-race program that has a first post time of 12:25 p.m.

Joining the field is Traxion, a Texas-bred son of Freighttrain B who is also seeking a second stakes victory. Owned by Abraham Escobedo and trained by Jorge Morales-Flores, the colt enters the West Texas Derby with three wins in five career starts.

Traxion’s resume is highlighted by a win in the $457,064 La Fiesta Futurity last October at Albuquerque Downs. Listed at 6-to-1 on the morning line, he will break from the No. 9 post under jockey Jesse Levario.

The field, with morning line odds and riders, for the West Texas Derby:
1- BEAUXNANZA (15-1) Oscar Andrade, Jr.
2- RING A LING DING (8-1) Christian Ramos
3- KJ FLASHING CANDY (6-1) Noe Garcia, Jr.
4- EXPENSSIVE BOOTS (12-1) Sergio Dominguez
5- REGARDING JESS (9-2) James Flores
6- SHOT OF TAKILLYA (15-1) Raul Hernandez, Jr.
7- ACHYLLES (10-1) Jacob Enriquez
8- LONDON BRIDGE (4-1) Luis Valenzuela
9- TRAXION (6-1) Jesse Levario
10- TEXAS PHARAOH (12-1) Esgar Ramirez
11 AE-RM DULCE VALIENTE (15-1) Brian Barraza
12- AE-SHIMMERY (20-1) Jose Enriquez

Lovely Josie James will put a two-race winning streak on the line Saturday in the 16th running of the $80,000 Sunburst Stakes, a Grade 3 sprint for New Mexico-bred 3-year-old fillies at Sunland Park.

Trained by Ramon Mendoza, the daughter of Suspicious Interest is the 3-to-1 morning-line favorite in the 350-yard event. Jockey Jose Ortiz is slated to ride from the No. 8 post.

Owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership, Lovely Josie James broke her maiden in November at Zia Park before following up with an allowance victory two weeks later. She enters Saturday with two wins in six starts and more than $114,000 in career earnings.

Challenging the favorite is Ivorys Patriot, the 7-to-2 second choice from the barn of trainer Jorge Morales-Flores. Owned by Orona Racing LLC, the filly is coming off a dominant allowance win on Dec. 7.

Ridden by Jesse Levario from the No. 2 post, Ivorys Patriot has earned more than $81,000 in eight career starts.

Trainer James J. Gonzales III will send out Happyour at 9-to-2 odds. Owned by Triple R Racing Stables LLC, Ted Rushing, and Wallace Lynn Landrum, the Big Daddy Cartel filly finished second to Ivorys Patriot in her last outing. She will break from the No. 5 post under jockey Joseph Belloc Jr. in the Sunburst Stakes, which will be run as the seventh race on the card.

The field, with morning line odds and riders, for the Sunburst Stakes:
1 BV CHINA DAWL (8-1) Jordy Muniz
2 IVORYS PATRIOT (7/2) Jesse Levario
3 MCKINLAY (12-1) Sergio Dominguez
4 RENEGADE REBA (10-1) Christian Ramos
5 HAPPYOUR (9/2) Joseph Belloc, Jr.
6 CZAR CATRINA (6-1) Noe Garcia, Jr.
7 BAMBI CARTEL (12-1) Joesan Marquez
8 LOVELY JOSIE JAMES (3-1) Jose Ortiz
9 JESS FIRE UP DOC (8-1) James Flores
10 PEACHEZZ (15-1) Oscar Andrade, Jr.
11 AE-DADDYS PASSION (20-1) Luis Martinez

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