Gillespie County Fairground hosted six trials today for the $163,800 G.C.F.A. Firecracker Futurity.

© Gillespie County Fair

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

FREDERICKSBURG, TX—JULY 4, 2026—El Rey de Chilitos turned in the fastest clocking from six trials Saturday at Gillespie County Fairground, leading the list of 10 qualifiers into the $163,800 G.C.F.A. Firecracker Futurity final on July 19.

The son of third-crop sire Chilitos stopped the timer in 17.874 for 350 yards while drawing away to a 1¼-length victory in the second trial, the quickest performance of the afternoon despite headwinds throughout the program.

Owned by Jose Angel Gomez-Luna, El Rey de Chilitos was bred in Texas by Alejandro Moya and is a double-registered colt out of Sheza Fearless Fire, by Tres Seis. Trained by Martin Rodriguez and ridden by Alejandro Medina, the 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale $14,000 RNA graduate settled just off the early pace before taking command and drawing clear of runner-up Mj Watters. He entered the trial off a second-place effort in the TPHBA Paint Horse Juvenile at Retama Park on June 25. This was his first career win in five starts.

The second-fastest qualifier was Mr Jet Fees, who won the fifth trial in 17.928 after prevailing by a head in a determined stretch drive. Racing for Faithful Cowboy, LLC, the brown gelding is by champion Ec Jet One out of Fee Lion, by Panther Mountain.

Bred in Texas by Iris M. Buchanan, Mr Jet Fees is trained by Jimmy W. Guerra and was ridden by Claudio Ponce Aguilar. He is a 2025 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate for $18,000. Mr Jet Fees held off Chick N Hawk by a head while earning the second-fastest qualifying mark of the day.

Chick N Hawk secured the third-fastest qualifying time of 17.957 while finishing second in the fifth trial, just a head behind Mr Jet Fees. The filly is owned and bred by Tonya D. Beck, trained by Jose Luis Sanchez III, and ridden by Luis L. Vivanco.

By multiple stakes sire Hawkeye out of Chicks Streakin Bye, by Jet Black Patriot, Chick N Hawk entered the trials of a maiden victory at Sam Houston Race Park on May 2. She has earned $12,300 in three starts.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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