Under jockey Jacob Enriquez, Apolitical Valor posted the fastest time from seven trials contested today at The Downs at Albuquerque for the $300,000-est. La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity.

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By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—SEPTEMBER 26, 2025—Seven trials were contested on Friday at The Downs at Albuquerque to determine the finalists for the Grade 3 $300,000-est. La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity and Apolitical Valor emerged as the fastest qualifier.

The 10 fastest 2-year-olds from the 400-yard trials advance to the rich final set for Sunday, October 19.

Apolitical Valor, a gelded son of leading sire Apollitical Jess out of the Valiant Hero mare Belle Of Valor, won the fourth trial in determined fashion, holding off a late rally to post the fastest qualifying time of 19.537 seconds, a 91 speed index into a 3 mph crosswind.

Bred in Oklahoma by Canadian River QH LLC, Apolitical Valor is owned by MJR Investments, Ltd. and trained by Clinton Crawford. Ridden by Jacob Enriquez, the $50,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate defeated third-fastest qualifier The Diesel Train by a neck.

Fourth in the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Ruidoso QH Futurity earlier this year, Apolitical Valor has won four of eight career starts and earned $228,312.

The second-fastest spot went to lightly raced Traxion, a $22,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale purchase. The Texas-bred gelding by world champion sire Freighttrain B out of Telarosa by Jet Black Patriot stopped the clock in 19.576 seconds in the third trial.

Owned by Abraham Escobedo, Traxion was bred by AQHA Racing Champion Breeder Bobby D. Cox. Conditioned by trainer Jorge A. Morales-Flores, he was making his second career start under the guidance of champion jockey James A. Flores.

Third-fastest was The Diesel Train, who nearly pulled the upset in the same trial as Apolitical Valor. The Louisiana-bred colt by Freighttrain B out of Apollotah by Apollitical Jess covered the distance in 19.577 seconds.

He is owned and trained by Luis Daniel Iturralde, who also bred the runner, and was ridden by Omar Iturralde.

A finalist in the All American Futurity(G1), West Texas Futurity(G2), and Ruidoso Juvenile Invitational, The Diesel Train has earned $113,177 in eight starts.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the seven trial heats will return for the $300,000-est. La Fiesta Quarter Horse Futurity(G3) final is on October 19 at The Downs at Albuquerque.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers, times, connections, and breeding lines.

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