Lil Kool Panther surges late under jockey Jesse Levario to win the Grade 2 $353,927 West Texas Futurity at Sunland Park, scoring at 21-1 odds.

© Coady Media

By Emily Paulk, StallioneSearch

SUNLAND PARK, NM–APRIL 4, 2026– Lil Kool Panther scored a 21-1 upset victory in the Grade 2 $353,927 West Texas Futurity on April 4 at Sunland Park, covering 300 yards in :15.324 seconds over a fast track.

Ridden by Jesse Levario, the colt broke well, tracked the early pace, and surged late to get up by a neck over Tempting Lu, while Chief Keef 123 finished third. The win was worth $166,346.

Owned by Amparan Racing Stables LLC and trained by Alberto Amparan, Lil Kool Panther was bred by Shane and Brooke Snow. The Texas-bred colt is a $15,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate and is sired by stakes sire Lil Kool Wagon. He is out of the Panther Mountain mare Panthersprowlforcash.

The winning connections of Lil Kool Panther accept the $353,927 West Texas Futurity (G2) trophy at Sunland Park on Saturday. © Coady Media

On the female side, the pedigree traces to a mare who is a half-sister to stakes winner Justan Old Flame ($16,194) and the dam of stakes winner A Special Stoli ($97,720).

Lil Kool Panther entered the final as the final qualifier from the March 13 trials and now has two wins from two starts with earnings exceeding $170,000.

Runner-up Tempting Lu, the fastest qualifier, rallied late but fell just short at the wire. Ridden by Jose Enriquez, the filly races for AA Farms LLC and is trained by Eric Valenzuela.

A $77,000 TQHA Yearling Sale purchase, she is sired by champion Tempting Dash and is out of the stakes-winning Heza Fast Dash mare La Mos Chingono. She is a half-sister to stakes winners La Mos Corona ($181,177) and La Mos PYC ($69,665). The female family also includes champions B And G Fast Dash ($228,610) and Panther Mountain ($459,921), along with AQHA Dam of Distinction Double Queen ($45,064).

Chief Keef 123 finished third after breaking well and showing speed before being outfinished late. Ridden by Luis Martinez, the gelding is owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis and trained by Xavier Rodriguez.

Bred by Pat Kurz, he is sired by champion Flying Cowboy 123 and is out of the Chief Corona mare Charmin Chief Corona, a graded stakes winner.

Cowgirl Eats Fire finished fourth, followed by Tater Hill Senator, Hock Ajet, JJ Kiss, GBH Cowboy, and Nine Degrees.

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