Dk Crystal Favorite headlines the Las Americas Derby on Sunday at the Hipodromo de las Americas

© Luis Prieto Zamudio

By Louanne Wainscott / Stallionesearch

MEXICO CITY, MEX–JULY 18, 2025—On Sunday, July 20, 2025, Hipódromo de las Américas will host the prestigious 42nd Running of the Las Américas Derby. In Race 8, six top 3-year-olds will compete in the 400-yard stakes race for an estimated purse of $15,500. 

Leading the field as the 2-1 morning line favorite, Dk Crystal Favorite brings both pedigree and performance into the gate. The California-bred filly is by Corona Cartel, out of Corona Crystal. Bred by La Presita LLC and LJM Ranch Inc., the daughter of Favorite Cartel races for Cuadra La Presita under the guidance of trainer Ashley Cirilo.

In her six lifetime starts, Dk Crystal Favorite has never missed the board, posting a record of 4-1-1 with $49,556 in earnings. She enters the Derby on a two-race win streak. She recently won the AQHA Derby Challenge and an allowance non-winners of two, and prior to those, she ran third in the Chorina Glory.

The filly will be piloted for the first time by Alejandro Gomez, the meet’s second-leading rider, from post position four. With sharp recent form and elite connections, she’ll look to add a derby title to her growing résumé.

Looking to reverse the outcome of their last meeting is My Lady Tempting, she ran second to Dk Crystal Favorite in a duel finish in the Adequan Derby Challenge Finals. She is listed at 5-2 on the morning line.

The Tempting Dash filly narrowly missed victory in her last outing against Dk Crystal Favorite and returns to settle the score. Out of Splendifferous (by Mr Jess Perry), she was bred in Utah by Michael Isom and represents the owners Cuadra Bronco Rider.

Trained by Octavio Becerra, the $32,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate has shown steady progression with one win, two seconds, and a third from five starts, earning $11,369 to date. Regular rider Arturo Vega Moreno will be back aboard, breaking from post three in what’s expected to be a tight, tactical showdown.

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