El Huracano V, under champion jockey Francisco Calderon, won the Grade 1 $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque.

© Coady Media

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM—JULY 12, 2026—Valeriano Racing Stables LLC's homebred El Huracano V surged to the front entering the stretch and edged away late to capture Sunday's Grade 1, $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity at The Downs at Albuquerque, earning the winner's share of $420,000 in the premier event for 2-year-old Quarter Horses.

The brown gelding by leading first-crop sire Golden Boi out of Bellissima Chocolata, by Valiant Hero, covered the 400 yards in 19.185, earning a 99 speed index while defeating Think Twice Perry by three-quarters of a length into a 7 mph headwind over a fast racing surface.

Under champion jockey Francisco Calderon, El Huracano V broke sharply, quickly put himself into contention, and inched away through the final strides for trainer Raymond Valerio.

Bred in Oklahoma by Valeriano Racing Stables LLC, the February foal ran his record to (5) 3-1-1. Two races back, he finished a close second in the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity at Remington Park and has rocketed to the top 2-year-old in the nation with earnings of $632,670.

The winning connections of El Huracano V accept the Rainbow Futurity stakes trophy Sunday afternoon.
© Coady Media

El Huracano V's maternal granddam, five-time champion filly Heartswideopen by Feature Mr Jess, won five Grade 1 races during a career that saw her earn $1,885,283.

Runner-up Think Twice Perry, a sorrel gelding by former leading sire Mr Jess Perry out of Budder Think Twice, by First Down Dash, closed willingly but could not reel in the winner, finishing another head in front of third-place finisher Blueyy.

Owned by Johnny Trotter, trained by James Gonzales II, and ridden by Edwin Escobedo, Think Twice Perry earned $180,000. Bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock LLC, he was a $90,000 purchase at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. This was only his third career start.

His half-sister Beuteeful finished third in the $534,426 Rainbow Oaks(G1) for 3-year-old filly on Saturday at Albuquerque.

Third-place finisher Blueyy, a brown filly by five-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Amore La Blue, by Mr Jess Perry, raced prominently from the outset before being narrowly outfinished late in only her second career start.

An elated jockey Francisco Calderon after winning the $1,000,000 Rainbow Futurity on Sunday. © Coady Media

Owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC, trained by Daniel Ruiz Amaya, and ridden by Luis Martinez, Blueyy earned $100,000 for her effort. Bred in California by Silver Racing Farm LLC. She sold for $90,000 at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The remainder of the order of finish was Heatseeker V, Cartel Cowgirl 123, Cyber Paint, Greatest Ever, Ask Her to Fly, Sephora 157, and Bett the Limit. Heatseeker V collected $80,000 for fourth, followed by Cartel Cowgirl 123 ($60,000), Cyber Paint ($50,000), Greatest Ever ($32,500), Ask Her to Fly ($30,000), Sephora 157 ($25,000), and Bett the Limit ($22,500).

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