Ariatt (#10) holds off fellow qualifiers Electrifying Cowboy (#7) and Decision Made (#5) in the fifth trial for the Grade 1 Rainbow Quarter Horse Derby on Sunday at Ruidoso Downs Racetrack & Casino.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

RUIDOSO DOWNS, NM—JUNE 29, 2025—Trials for the Grade 1 Rainbow Quarter Horse Derby concluded Sunday with six competitive heats for 3-year-old Quarter Horses going 440 yards on a sealed, sloppy track.

Ariatt, a bay gelding by Tempting Dash out of Lethal Lil by Corona Cartel, surged late to post the fastest qualifying time of the day, covering the distance in 21.238, a 99 speed index.

Bred in New Mexico by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC, Ariatt is owned by the same operation and trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez. Champion jockey Francisco Calderon piloted the gelding to his determined finish to secure the top spot for the $706,693 final to be run July 12.

It was the first win in three starts this season for Ariatt, a finalist in the Grade 1 Texas Classic Futurity last fall who has earned $111,880

Two-time Grade 1 winner Fdd Dreams, under jockey Luis Martinez, qualifying in the opening trial. © Coady Media.

Close behind as the second-fastest qualifier was recent Ruidoso QH Derby(G1) winner Fdd Dreams, who captured his trial with a commanding effort, stopping the clock in 21.278.

Another standout gelding bred and owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC, Fdd Dreams is by FDD Dynasty out of Treasured Dreams by Apollitical Jess. Also trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez, Fdd Dreams drew clear under jockey Luis Martinez, drawing off to win by more than three lengths. He has won eight of 12 career starts and earned $1,228,489.

He won the Texas Classic Futurity(G1) last year and was second in the All American Futurity(G1) and Rainbow QH Futurity..

Two-time Grade 1 winner Lethal Cowboy 123, under jockey Edwin Escobedo, qualified in the second trial.
© Coady Media.

The third-fastest trial time was turned in by Lethal Cowboy 123, a $150,000 purchase at the 2023 Los Alamitos Equine Mixed Sale. The sorrel gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 out of Pretty Lethal by First Down Dash posted a time of 21.280 after breaking sharply and holding clear in the stretch.

Bred in California by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa, Lethal Cowboy 123 races for Caliche Walls Venture LLC in partnership with Alan Isbell, Lance Bland, and Jimmy Barton. He is conditioned by Marc E. Jungers and was ridden by Edwin G. Escobedo.

Winner of both the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity(G1) and Golden State Million Futurity(G1), Lethal Cowboy 123 has banked $1,271,529 in 10 career starts,

These top three contenders will now point toward the lucrative Rainbow QH Derby final on July 12, 2025, with a purse of $706,693 on the line for the connections of these talented sophomores. The final promises another showdown among the nation’s elite 3-year-olds, all gunning for Grade 1 glory at the classic quarter-mile distance. The winner will take home $296,924.

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

The second 10 fastest qualifiers are preferred invites to the $100,000 Rainbow QH Invitational, which will run on July 12. CLICK HERE for those horses.

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