Heavy favorite, Dark Water Bay, won the $62,115 Alfredo Castro Rea Classic under Heriberto Camacho at the Hipódromo de las Américas on Sunday.

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEXICO–SEPTEMBER 21, 2025–Dark Water Bay continued his rise through the freshman ranks on Sunday, scoring his second consecutive stakes victory in the $62,115 Alfredo Castro Rea Classic at the Hipódromo de las Américas.

Breaking under jockey Heriberto Camacho, the bay colt drew clear midway and powered home to a 1 1/2-length win over Pacific Surfliner. He covered the 350 yards in 17.38 seconds, earning an 88 speed index. The victory was worth $26,000, boosting his bankroll to over $66,500.

The Oklahoma-bred colt has lit the board in all six career starts, compiling a record of three wins, two seconds, and one third. Dark Water Bay entered off a win in the $38,484 Jody’s Glory Classic, and earlier this season finished runner-up in both the John Deere Juvenile Challenge and the Prize Classic.

The winning connections of Dark Water Bay accept the Alredo Castro Rea Classic trophy at the Hipodromo de las Americas on Sunday. © Luis Prieto Zamudio

Trainer Antonio Garcia saddled the Oklahoma-bred colt for owner Cuadra Alpuyeca. Bred by Mike Vaughan, Dark Water Bay was purchased for $77,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The son of Mr Jess Perry is out of Aqua Girl, by Corona Cartel.

Pacific Surfliner, who came in riding a three-race winning streak, including a victory over Dark Water Bay in the AQHA Juvenile Challenge, bobbled the lead and could not hold off the late charge of the winner. The daughter of Freighttrain B crossed the wire second under jockey Huberclein Gomez for trainer Julian Gutiérrez.

Bred in Oklahoma by Kelly Yother Equine LLC, Pacific Surfliner is out of Ring A Ring Of Roses by Jess Lips. She has three wins and one second from five starts with earnings over $40,000 for owner Cuadra JJ. She was a $9,500 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale.

Piloted by Arturo Vega Moreno, Wind River finished third, 1 3/4-lengths behind the runner-up. Still seeking her first win, the daughter of Cyber Monday picked up her initial black type with the effort, increasing her career earnings to $8,600.

She is out of Lady Nayen by Check Him Out and was bred in Missouri by Jim Streelm and Bill Dale. A $51,000 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, Wind River is trained by Octavio Ivan Becerra for Cuadra Bronco Rider.

Bolt Thru My Heart, Blue On The Run, SJM Cowboy, Dashing Bureaucracy, Rg Divine Reason, Fdd Star, and Big Pearls Cartel completed the order of finish..

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