Sweet Fire Wes (inside) posted the fastest qualifying time for the $30,000 added AQRA President's Open Spring Derby at Turf Paradise Racecourse today.

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PHOENIX, AZ—MARCH 10, 2025—AQRA Futurity winner Sweet Fire Wes held on by a nose to set the fastest qualifying time for the AQRA President's Open Spring Derby on Monday at Turf Paradise Racecourse.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the two trial races conducted today will return to the Phoenix racetrack on Monday, March 31st, to vie for the winner's share of a $30,000-added purse going a distance of 350 yards.

Entering off a troubled effort in his 3-year-old debut on February 22nd, Sweet Fire Wes fired under jockey Jacob Enriquez today, stopping the timer in the fastest time of 17.665 seconds, a 92-speed index into a five mph crosswind.

Trainer Adolfo Armendariz Celaya saddled the Arizona-bred son of Panama Wes to his fourth win in seven career starts for owner-breeder Fernando Canales. Bred from the One Sweet Jess mare Sheza Sweet Ride, Sweet Fire Wes has banked $52,609.

Ihearthetrainarollin, a Texas-bred who set the fastest time in the Oklahoma Futurity(G2) trials in her first start a year ago, finished a strong second to Sweet Fire Wes to get the second fastest clocking of 17.673, a 92 speed index. Cerapio Figueroa had the riding assignment.

Jesus Olivas-Valenzuela trains the daughter of world champion sire Freighttrain B for owner Javier Orozco. Gary Aber bred the bay filly from the Corona Cartel mare Beautiful Corona.  The second dam is the champion filly Benda Beautiful.  Stakes-placed Ihearthetrainarollin has won two of seven starts and earned $33,931.

The top five qualifiers came out of the opening trial.

Rush My Hocks was a neck winner in the second trial to get the sixth fastest time of 17.813 seconds, an 88-speed index into a six mph crosswind. Marc Jungers tapped jockey Christian Ramos to ride the son of leading sire Kiss My Hocks for owner Tungsten Racing Partnership.

MJ Farms bred the gelding in New Mexico from the Rushago mare Ima China Rush. He has earned $30,763 off four wins in 11 starts.

CLICK HERE for the AQRA President's Open Spring Derby finalists list, with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers, and jockeys.
 

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