Alitlelesstalk, ridden by Luis Valenzuela, held off Heart On A Run by a neck to capture Friday’s $61,350 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 26, 2025–Alitlelesstalk scored his second stakes win of the season Friday, capturing the $61,350 AQRA Quarter Horse Futurity at Turf Paradise, and giving the second-year sire Tell Cartel another headline moment on the card.

The fastest qualifier from the trials, Alitlelesstalk wasn’t the public choice in the 350-yard final, but he made it look simple. He broke first from the gates, took control immediately, and never relinquished, holding off post-time favorite Heart On A Run by a neck. Ridden by Luis Valenzuela, the chestnut gelding covered the distance in 17.800 seconds, clocking an 88 speed index.

Trained by Matt Fales, the win was worth $30,675 and lifted Alitlelesstalk’s earnings to $79,657, improving his record to three wins from six starts. The Carolyn and Ralph Fales homebred is out of Jess One Looke by Jesse James Jr.

Alitlelesstalk’s winning connections from the AQRA Futurity at Turf Paradise on Friday. © Coady Media

Tell Cartel’s impact didn’t stop there. Earlier on Friday’s card, his foals also swept the opener, finishing 1-2-3 in the AQRA Futurity Consolation.

Heart On A Run finished second in the AQRA Futurity, another solid effort that kept her on the board through five starts. The bay filly, favored in the final, broke her maiden in her trial heat and advanced off the third-fastest qualifying time, then launched a determined run at the leader in the lane but came up a neck short.

Trained by David Williams, she races for owner-breeder J Lazy Six Racing and was ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr. She is by Corona Cartel. She is out of One Spicy Eagle by One Famous Eagle.

Heart On The Run’s record stands at five starts with one win, two seconds, and two thirds and earnings of $30,386. The placing also gave her a second career black-type finish after her earlier runner-up effort in the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Futurity.

Zm Jess checked in third, a neck behind Heart On A Run. The bay gelding is winless through six starts, but still continues to stack hard-knocking finishes, including a second-place run behind Alitlelesstalk in the Desert Classic Futurity earlier this season. He has three seconds and one third from six start with $27,040 in the bank.

Trainer Havid Canez conditioned Zm Jess for owner Jose Martinez with Justine Klaiber in the saddle. The son of Jess Different is out of Jess a Blue Tac by Jess Louisiana Blue, and he was bred in Arizona by Francisco Molina.

One Cache Icon was fourth. Kj Lets Roll finished fifth, followed by Master of the Craft in sixth, A Fancy Dashn Corona in seventh, Singles Corona in eighth, Jess Revvin It Up in ninth, and Nonika Cartel tenth.

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

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