Tahitis French Kiss, the fastest qualifier and 2-1 morning-line favorite, will break from post two in Sunday’s $60,700 Mile High Futurity at Arapahoe Park.

© Coady Media

By Louanne Wainscott, StallioneSearch

AURORA, CO–AUGUST 15, 2026–The Sunday afternoon card at Arapahoe Park will bring the 2026 racing season to a close with a ten-race program starting at 1:00 p.m. The final day of the meet will feature three stakes events, highlighted by the $60,700 Mile High Futurity, the $40,122 Mile High Derby, and the $19,500 Rocky Mountain Championship Stakes.

The seventh race will spotlight the juveniles in the $60,700 Mile High Futurity. A field of ten two-year-olds who earned their places in the finale through the July 31 trial heats will load into the gate at approximately 3:35 p.m. to race 400 yards.

Tahitis French Kiss leads the field as the 2-1 morning-line favorite after posting the fastest qualifying time. The filly pushed to the lead in her trial and held on by a half-length to secure the win and the top qualifying mark.

The talented juvenile has already proven herself among stakes company this season, finishing second by a nose in the $61,000 Cherry Creek Futurity. Through six career starts, she has three wins and two runner-up finishes, with her only off-the-board effort coming in her career debut.

Francisco J. Cornejo's Colorado homebred filly is by Kiss My Hocks and out of the Wave Carver mare Tahiti Wave. Trainer Haley N. Hobbs will saddle Tahitis French Kiss from post two, with Fernando Fonseca-Soto aboard.

Mucho Carino enters as the second choice at morning-line odds of 5-2. The filly made an impressive career debut in her trial, overcoming trouble after being forced in at the start, then taking command and holding on by a head in a gate-to-wire victory to earn her place in the final.

The daughter of Rc Me Leaving You is out of the Heza Fast Dash mare Julie B Fast and was bred in Colorado by Bielau Oaks. She races for owner Alberto Martinez and is trained by Hipolito Michel-Valverde, who will saddle her from post eight with jockey Cristian Aguirre-Erives aboard.

One race earlier, nine sophomores will take center stage in the $40,122 Mile High Derby. The three-year-olds are scheduled to race 400 yards at approximately 3:05 p.m.

Rc Juliet leads the field as the 5-2 morning-line favorite. The filly enters the Derby after a troubled effort in her most recent start, when she was bumped hard and thrown off stride, finishing fourth, just 1 1/2 lengths behind the winner.

Troubled starts have followed Rc Juliet in some of her biggest races, including this season's Dan Lockie Derby, where she earned a spot in the final but again ran into trouble at the start. As a two-year-old, she showed her ability on the Arapahoe Park straightaway, finishing second in the $63,000 Mile High Futurity.

Through eight career starts, Rc Juliet has earned three victories, one second, and one third, earning $24,034 for owner Anthony Ruiz.

The daughter of The Fiscal Cliff is out of the Stoli mare Ms Otoole and was bred in Texas by R C Running Horses. Abraham Felix conditions the filly and will send her from post two, with jockey Jose Garcia-Segura aboard.

The stakes action will begin immediately with the first race of the afternoon, as a field of six Colorado-breds meets in the $19,500 Rocky Mountain Championship Stakes. The three-year-olds and older will kick off the final day of racing at 440 yards.

Sheza Fearless Eagle leads the field as the 2-1 morning-line favorite and enters in strong form after a commanding victory in the $31,000 Arapahoe Park Distaff Challenge Stakes. Despite stumbling at the start, the four-year-old mare quickly recovered and proved much the best, drawing away to win by 2 3/4 lengths and earning a 102 speed index.

The accomplished mare has collected nine career victories and earnings of $291,461 heading into Sunday's championship event.

Jill Cook's Colorado homebred mare is by One Fabulous Eagle and out of the Tres Seis mare Ima Fearless Fire. She is trained by Fernando Ivan Manriquez, who will saddle her from post three, with Edwin G. Escobedo aboard.

From Colorado's top older runners in the Rocky Mountain Championship to a competitive group of sophomores in the Mile High Derby and a talented field of rising stars in the Mile High Futurity, Sunday's card will offer a stakes-filled finale as the curtain falls on the 2026 Arapahoe Park meet.

The races at Arapahoe Park can be watched on Q-Racing Video.

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