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Fastest Qualifier One Little Liar, Mitey Relentless Headline Grade 3 West Texas Derby
Four Corners Futurity winner One Little Liar will head Saturday's 400-yard, $156,900 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.

© Bailey Ivey / Ruidoso Downs
Fastest Qualifier One Little Liar, Mitey Relentless Headline Grade 3 West Texas Derby

BY MICHAEL CUSORTELLI

SUNLAND PARK, NM–FEBRUARY 26, 2024–Adrian Zapata's One Little Liar, a stakes-winning son of One Valiant Hero and the fastest qualifier, leads a field of 13 sophomores entered back in Saturday's 400-yard, $156,900 West Texas Derby (G3) at Sunland Park.

One Little Liar made his local debut with a neck victory in the first of seven West Texas Derby trials on February 10. The gelding has earned $104,889 from eight races, and his four wins include last year's 350-yard, $172,000 Four Corners Futurity at SunRay Park.

One Little Liar was a $25,000 purchase at the 2022 Heritage Place Yearling Sale in Oklahoma City. The gelding drew post 2 and will be ridden by Noe Garcia Jr. for trainer Andres Gonzalez.

Other contenders include Mitey Relentless, a son of champion Hes Relentless whose two-race win streak includes a clear three-length victory in the second trial. A $60,000 buy at the '22 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the sorrel gelding is coming off of a juvenile season during which he ran third, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Flyin Rabbit 123, in the December 17, 400-yard Southwest Juvenile Championship Stakes (G2) at Zia Park, and he was a finalist in the July 16, $1-million Rainbow Futurity (G1) at Ruidoso Downs.

Mitey Relentless is trained by Jesus Rondan Jr. for owners Scott Branson and Jimmy Vasquez. The gelding drew post 9 and will be ridden by Luis Martinez.

The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:
  1. Mr Eastwood (Jaime Parga Leos)
  2. One Little Liar (Noe Garcia Jr.)
  3. Proven Favorite (Christian Ramos)
  4. Third Fabulous Sign (Manuel Gutierrez)
  5. Tempting Barbie (Jose L. Enriquez)
  6. Tres The Favorite (Francisco Calderon)
  7. Bacardi (Esgar Ramirez)
  8. Moes (Adrian Ramos)
  9. Mitey Relentless (Luis Martinez)
  10. Dodge City (Ali Rivera)
  11. AE-Walk It Back (Sergio Becerra Jr.)
  12. AE-Irish Seis (Luis Martinez)
  13. AE-Jess A Spittin Candy (Ali Rivera)

All Sunland Park races can be seen at Q-Racing Video.com.