Dk Misty Cartel powers to the fastest qualifying time of 15.518 seconds on opening day at Hipodromo de las Americas, leading Cuadra San Martin’s quartet into the $60,000 Mexico Derby final.

© Miguel Angel Espinoza / Hipodromo de Las Américas

By Leann Noguera, StallioneSearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–MARCH 1, 2026–The first Derby trials of the season were held on Quarter Horse racing’s opening day, with four heats contested for berths to the $60,000 Mexico Derby.

Reigning 2025 Mexico Champion Owner Cuadra San Martin wasted no time making a statement, qualifying four runners to the final, including the fastest of the day, Dk Misty Cartel, who stopped the clock in 15.518 seconds in the first trial.

The daughter of leading sire Danny Cartel returned for her three-year-old debut just as sharp as she ended her championship season. From the inside post, Dk Misty Cartel broke first and never looked back, clocking an 81 speed index and finishing 3/4-lengths ahead of Kc Diamante.

Bred by Cuadra La Presita, she is out of Mingle Tingle by First Moonflash. Last year she was named the 2025 Mexico Champion Two-Year-Old Filly after consistently facing the toughest company, including her stablemate and Triple Crown winner Rey De Manny.

She finished second in both the México Futurity (RG3) and the Mexico Breeders Futurity and was third in the Subasta Selecta Futurity (RG2). Dk Misty Cartel has never missed the board in nine career starts, compiling four wins, four seconds and one third while earning more than $138,000.

Cuadra San Martin’s depth did not stop there.

Mi Krash Favorito recorded the third-fastest time of the afternoon with a runner-up finish to second fastest qualifier Manny Sr in the third trial. The colt is a son of 2025 Champion Stallion Krash Cartel. He was bred by 2025 Champion Breeder Abelardo Gallegos and is out of Estrella De Noche by Favorite Cartel.

Mi Krash Favorito has won three of 10 starts and earned nearly $45,000. His biggest score came in the Alberto Bailleres Futurity, and he was also a finalist in both the Garanones Futurity and the Mexico Breeders Futurity during the 2025 season.

Dk Lisboa Cartel and El Ilusionista Sr each captured their respective trial heats to secure their spots in the Derby final, giving Cuadra San Martin four of the qualifiers on opening day.

All four were ridden by their regular pilot, Nestor Duran, who enjoyed a standout 2025 campaign competing in both the United States and Mexico. Duran said Dk Misty Cartel broke sharply, just as she typically does.

“She broke pretty good, like she always does. I only had to tap her a couple of times to keep her focused on the race,” he said.

The quartet is trained by 2025 Champion Trainer Luis Enrique Cruz, who saddled all four qualifiers for the powerhouse operation. Duran credited the team’s chemistry as a key factor behind their success.

“We have a really great team. I couldn’t ask for more,” he said.

When asked how he will decide which mount to take in the final, Duran admitted the choice won’t be easy.

“It’s really hard to make a decision right now because I don’t know how they’re going to come back after the break they’ve been on. They haven’t run since November, so I’ll gallop them before we enter the final,” he explained.

He also pointed out that El Ilusionista Sr faced a headwind in his trial, something the other three qualifiers did not encounter, which could factor into the final decision.

The second-fastest qualifier of the afternoon was Manny Sr, who won the third trial in 15.533 seconds under jockey Alejandro Gomez Lopez. Trainer Cesar Garcia conditions the son of One Big Bird for owner Cuadra Mendoza, who also qualified two others, Tarantino Sr and Kc Coco Cristal.

Bred by Santa Rosa Chiapas, he is out of the Favorite Cartel mare Kaberet. Manny Sr has finished in the top three in eight of nine career starts, posting a 4-2-1 record while earning nearly $30,000. He captured the Mexico Breeders Futurity Consolation, was third in the Mexico Futurity Consolation and was a finalist in the Garanones Futurity in 2025.

The $60,000 Mexico Derby final is scheduled for Sunday, March 15, 2026, at Hipodromo de las Americas. CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers.

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