El Ilusionista Sr, winner of five consecutive races including the 2025 Mexico Breeders Futurity, enters Sunday’s $54,456 Mexico Derby at Hipódromo de las Américas as the 9-5 morning-line favorite.

© Elliot Leon

By Stallionesearch / Louanne Wainscott

MEXICO CITY, MEX–MARCH 12, 2026–The Sunday, March 15 racing program at Hipódromo de las Américas will showcase an exciting eleven-race card highlighted by several notable stakes events that promise strong competition for fans and bettors alike. Headlining the afternoon will be the $54,456 Mexico Derby, accompanied by the $24,838 AQHA Distaff Challenge, the $17,420 Clásico Francisco Pasquel Stakes, the $7,586 Mexico Derby Special Weight, and the $24,585 Maiden Stakes. The Clásico Francisco Pasquel was originally scheduled for last week but was rescheduled, adding even more depth to this weekend’s program.

The second race on the card is the $17,420 Clásico Francisco Pasquel, where Mexico-bred runners aged three years old and upward will sprint the extremely short distance of 110 yards. Cherry Jabuti, breaking from post three, has been installed as the 1-1 morning-line favorite and appears poised for a quick dash from the gate. He will face a notable challenger in post four entrant Force A Deal, listed at 9-2 on the morning line. Both runners are known for their explosive starts, which should make for an exciting and fast-paced contest early in the afternoon.

Later in the program, the sixth race features the $7,586 Mexico Derby Special Weight, with a field of seven. Rg Beautiful Vicky enters the race as the 5-2 morning-line favorite and will look to hold off a competitive group of rivals seeking to earn valuable recognition on the Derby undercard.

Attention then shifts to the tenth race, the $24,585 Maiden Stakes, scheduled for approximately 19:00 and contested over 350 yards. The race drew nine entrants, all of whom were still maidens at the time of nomination, setting the stage for a wide-open wagering event.

Ducan enters as the 3-1 morning-line favorite. The four-year-old gelding will make his debut at Hipódromo de las Américas and looks to secure his first career victory. During his previous starts in the United States, he recorded a top speed index of 94, suggesting he has the ability to be competitive in this field.

Ducan is sired by A Royal Jess and out of First Place Cartel by Corona Cartel. Bred in New Mexico by MRB Racing, LLC, he competes for Cuadra Alpuyeca and is conditioned by Antonio Garcia Carranza. He will break from post five with Heriberto Camacho named to ride.

The evening’s feature event arrives in the final race of the program, the $54,456 Mexico Derby. The race will be contested at 300 yards and is scheduled for approximately 19:30, featuring the ten fastest qualifiers from the March 1 trial heats.

El Ilusionista Sr will break from the outside post ten and leads the field as the 9-5 morning-line favorite. The three-year-old gelding enters the Derby in exceptional form, having won his last five starts in succession, including the 2025 Mexico Breeders Futurity. He has earned $88,441 while racing for Cuadra San Martin.

The gelding is a son of Swingin Good Reason and out of Muscles Diablo by Valiant Hero. Bred in Mexico by Rancho Santa Rosa Chipas, he is trained by Luis Enrique Cruz Solis and will again have Nestor Duran in the saddle as he attempts to extend his winning streak.

Cuadra San Martin will also be represented by stablemate and fastest qualifier Dk Misty Cartel, who will break from the rail at 3-1 morning-line odds. The talented filly was named the 2025 Mexican Champion Two-Year-Old Filly after finishing second in both the RG3 Mexico Futurity and the Mexico Breeders Futurity and third in the RG2 Subasta Selecta Futurity. With three career victories, she has earned $137,767.

Dk Misty Cartel is sired by Danny Cartel and out of Mingle Tingle by First Moonflash. She was bred in Mexico by Cuadra La Presita and is also conditioned by Luis Enrique Cruz Solis. Jockey Paul Osvaldo Rodriguez will guide the filly from post position one.

A field of talented three-year-olds will line up for the 300-yard finale in what shapes up to be a thrilling edition of the $54,456 Mexico Derby, with several contenders capable of producing a blanket finish.

For the preview of the $24,838 AQHA Distaff Challenge on Sunday’s card, see the related feature.

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