Under jockey Christian Ramos, Aj Flawless won the $40,000 Lobo Derby at Albuquerque Downs Saturday night.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—OCTOBER 18, 2025—Aj Flawless proved her name true on Saturday evening at Albuquerque Downs, turning in a sharp performance to capture the $40,000 Lobo Derby for three-year-olds at 400 yards.

Breaking alertly under jockey Christian Ramos, the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess out of Julias Perfection by Tr Dasher gained command early, then held off late challengers to score by a half-length in 19.523 seconds, registering a 91 speed index.

The bay filly, bred in California by Rancho El Cabresto Inc., was aided by an eight-mile-per-hour tailwind on a fast track. Trained by Marc Jungers for owners Larry and Bobbie Rice, Aj Flawless earned $19,845 for the victory, her most lucrative payday since being purchased for $84,000 at the 2023 Heritage Place Yearling Sale. She has earned $54,253 from five wins in 13 career starts.

The winning connections of Aj Flawless accept the Lobo Derby stakes trophy at Albuquerque Downs Saturday night. © Coady Media

Space Cowwboyy, a brown gelding by former leading sire Corona Cartel out of Cluster of Stars-TB by Greeley’s Galaxy-TB, finished second after rallying strongly in the final yards.

Bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock LLC, Space Cowwboyy is owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez, trained by David Gomez-Barraza, and ridden by Mauro Salcedo. The $55,000 Ruidoso Yearling Sale graduate earned $8,505 for his runner-up finish.

Space Cowwboyy won the Ruidoso QH Juvenile and was a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity(G1) and West Texas Juvenile at 2. He has banked $105,167in 14 starts.

Conflict, a Grade 3-placed son of  Separate Interest out of Remember The Cartel by Corona Cartel, finished third after recovering from a bump at the break and improving late.

Also owned by Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez and trained by David Gomez-Barraza, the California-bred colt was ridden by Luis Martinez. Bred by Steve D. Burns DVM and purchased for $42,000 at the 2023 Ruidoso Yearling Sale, Conflict earned $4,253 for his effort, boosting his bankroll to $115,511.

Pari-mutuel payoffs returned $11.20 to win, $4.20 to place, and $3.60 to show on Aj Flawless; $4.60 to place and $3.20 to show on Space Cowwboyy; and $2.60 to show on Conflict. The $1 exacta paid $30.50, the 50-cent trifecta returned $32.10, the $1 superfecta paid $373.30, and the daily double returned $9.80.

Brown Kat, Untamed, Eos Keep Dreamin, and Pollard completed the order of finish.

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