Cd Favorite Lady, Sweet Fire Wes, and Paradise Pete swept the fastest three spots from Trial 3, qualifying to the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby on Wednesday.

© Coady Media

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

PHOENIX, AZ–DECEMBER 10, 2025—Four trials were held on Wednesday afternoon for 35 three-year-olds vying for one of ten spots returning to the $70,000-estimated Turf Paradise Open Derby. The top three fastest times came out of Trial 3, where Cd Favorite Lady, Sweet Fire Wes, and Paradise Pete swept the board. Finals are set for December 31.

Fastest qualifier Cd Favorite Lady, a 3-year-old filly by Favorite Cartel, dug in gamely to win a three-way battle at the wire, prevailing by a nose in a dramatic photo finish over Sweet Fire Wes. Under jockey Cerapio Figueroa, she stopped the clock in 19.725 seconds for a 101 speed index after dueling every step of the 400 yards.

The filly is trained by Havid Canez for owner–breeder Cesar J. Dabdoub and is out of Jessa Lady Cee by Mr Jess Perry. Coming off a troubled sixth-place finish in the Wayne Brasher Memorial Stakes, Cd Favorite Lady has already put together a strong year, with a victory in the Downs Fall Distaff Stakes and a third-place effort in the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby. She has compiled four wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 14 starts with $56,053 in earnings.

Second-fastest qualifier Sweet Fire Wes flashed her usual speed and just missed in that tight photo, finishing a nose behind Cd Favorite Lady in 19.731 seconds with a 99 speed index. The 3-year-old filly by Panama Wes is trained and owned by Fernando Canales, who also bred her in Arizona. She is out of Sheza Sweet Fire by One Sweet Jess.

A multiple stakes winner, Sweet Fire Wes captured the AQRA Futurity last season and defeated Cd Favorite Lady in her last start in the AQRA Presidents Open Spring Derby. She enters the final with five wins and one second from nine starts and $80,881 earned.

Paradise Pete completed the blanket finish, closing strongly to land third in 19.746 seconds with a 99 speed index. Ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr. and trained by David M. Gomez-Barraza, the 3-year-old colt is owned and bred by Stephen Marshall Harris. He is by Flying Cowboy 123 and out of Fire Specialist by Walk Thru Fire.

Paradise Pete, who finished second in the Ruidoso Maiden Stakes and was a finalist in the La Fiesta Derby earlier this season, will be looking to earn his first stakes victory in the Turf Paradise Open Derby final. He goes into the championship with three wins, two seconds, and one third from 13 starts and $57,318 in earnings.

CLICK HERE for complete results of the ten qualifiers to the AQRA Turf Paradise Open Derby.

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