Br Chivali Nazareno surges from the inside post under Miguel Angel Rodriguez to capture Sunday’s $16,150 Inaugural Classic at Hipodromo de las Americas.

© Miguel Angel Espinoza / Hipodromo de Las Américas

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–MARCH 1, 2026– The 2026 Quarter Horse season opened in decisive fashion at Hipodromo de las Americas as 2025 Champion Br Chivali Nazareno captured the $16,150 Inaugural Classic, covering 350 yards in 17.49 seconds with an 89 speed index.

Sent off as the heavy favorite in the field of four, the standout runner delivered $8,075 to his connections to launch the nine-race program that also featured the Inaugural Classic Stakes and four trials toward the $60,000-estimated Mexico Derby Trials.

Breaking from the inside post, Br Chivali Nazareno was confidently handled by Miguel Angel Rodriguez and led throughout, asserting his class immediately and never wavering to the wire.

The son of Southern Corona has now carried his dominance from a flawless 2025 campaign into the new season, extending a remarkable winning streak that dates back to 2024. His latest score pushed his bankroll to nearly $300,000.

Br Chivali Nazareno is trained by Jorge Alberto Ruiz Peribán for owner Cuadra Cartas Blancas. The sorrel colt is out of Chivali Go by Gone to the Man and was bred in Mexico by Maximiliano Pérez C.

A Mexican Champion Aged Horse in 2025, he assembled a perfect season that included a victory in the Jose Merced Gomez Orozco Classic for the second year in a row and new track records at both 220 and 300 yards. Overall, he has lit the board in 28 of 29 starts, compiling 22 wins, two seconds and four thirds.

Runner-up One Famous Crystal continued his consistent form under 2025 Champion Jockey Huberclein Gomez, the same rider who partnered him to a Champion of Champions Classic triumph last season. The lightly raced colt has hit the board in all four career starts, with two wins, one second and one third, and now carries $23,000 in lifetime earnings.

One Famous Crystal is trained by Cesar Garcia Serrano for owner Rancho El Pirul. The colt is by One Famous Eagle. He is out of Corona Crystal by Corona Cartel and was bred in California by La Presita LLC/LJM Ranch Inc.

Space Cowboi completed the trifecta under jockey M. Hernandez S. The five-year-old has compiled four wins, three seconds and four thirds from 28 starts, building earnings of nearly $27,000.

Space Cowboi is conditioned by Hugo Estrada Lopez for owner Speed Lab Racing. The gelding is by Flying Cowboy 123. He is out of Una Hero by Valiant Hero and was bred by Webb Ranch. A $24,000 graduate of the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale, he added another solid stakes placing to his résumé with the third-place finish.

Jess Call Me Angel rounded out the order of finish in the season-opening feature with a fourth place finish. The six-year-old mare by One Sweet Jess is out of Im Game Lets Play by Game Patriot. Bred by Jo Baya Forman, Hugo Estrada Lopez trains her for Speed Lab Racing.

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