Ruidoso Derby (G1) winner FDD Dreams will head six trials on Wednesday for the $700,000-est. All American Derby at The Downs in Albuquerque.

© Ernesto Salinas, Jr. / StallioneSearch

By H. David Smith, StallioneSearch

ALBUQUERQUE, NM–AUGUST 5, 2025–A field of the best 3-year-old Quarter Horses in the county will line up at The Downs at Albuquerque on Wednesday, August 6, for five trial heats to determine the 10 qualifiers for the $700,000-est. Grade 1 All American Derby/ The final will be run on Sunday, August 31.

The trials, contested at 440 yards, are scheduled as Races 5 through 10 with a first post of 12:40 p.m. (MDT). They follow Races 1 through 4, trials for the $500,000-est. All American Oaks(G1) (see related story).

Among the standout trial heats are Race 7 and Race 8, which feature several Grade 1-caliber contenders, including some high-dollar sale graduates and trial supplements.

In Race 7, FDD Dreams (5-2) headlines what may be the deepest of the five trials. The homebred gelding by FDD Dynasty out of Treasured Dreams by Apollitical Jess)is trained by Xavier Rodriguez for La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC.

With over $1.2 million in career earnings, he has already won the G1 Ruidoso Derby in June and the G1 Texas Classic Futurity at Lone Star Park as a 2-year-old. His trial win at Ruidoso in the uncontested Rainbow Derby(G1) trials on June 29 was dominant, stopping the clock in 21.278 and winning by over a length to post the second fastest time.

Also in this heat is Daou (7-2), trained by Fred Danley for J & SM Inc. The son of four-time world champion sire FDD Dynasty out of Donelli has banked over $167,000 with eight runner-up finishes from 13 starts. He was a solid second behind Lethal Cowboy 123 in his most recent trial effort, qualifying for the Rainbow Derby(G1).

Eagle Aye (4-1), a $155,000 TQHA Yearling Sale graduate, has been knocking on the door of a breakthrough. Bred by Bobby D. Cox and trained by Ramon Mendoza, the son of One Famous Eagle was third in the Grade 1 $823,000 Ruidoso QH Derby two races back.

Brown Coffeee (6-1) is a multiple stakes winner by Good Reason SA, including a gate-to-wire score in the G1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby. He drew a line through a poor outing in his most recent trial, but has proven Grade 1 speed.

In Race 8, the electric House Of Lords (5-2) enters off a sharp trial win on June 29 at Ruidoso when he qualified to the Rainbow Derby(G1). The Flying Cowboy 123 gelding, bred by Buck Way Ranch and trained by Victor Rodriguez-Flores, has won three straight, including the G2 Heritage Place Derby in Oklahoma City.

The $65,000 Ruidoso Sale purchase has already earned over $167,000 this year and looks like a top contender. He races for two-time All American Derby winning owner Valeriano Racing Stables LLC.

To his inside is the flashy Lethal Cowboy 123 (4-1), trained by Marc Jungers for Caliche Walls Venture. Bred by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa and owned by Tungsten Racing Partnership and Ronald Sugamosto, the $150,000 Los Alamitos Sale grad has won eight of 10 starts, including the G1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

In late June, he returned to form with a sharp trial score over Daou to post the third-fastest clocking in the Rainbow Derby(G1) trials.

Earlier in Race 5, Im Missmerized (5-2) looms large off back-to-back runner-up efforts in Iowa, including a nose loss in the $118,000 Prairie Meadows Gold Derby. Trained by James Gonzales III for Hector Reza, the Utah-bred son of champion Kvn Corona is a $21,000 Heritage Place graduate. He's been ultra-consistent, finishing on the board in 8 of 10 starts.

Race 9 brings together several competitive entrants.

Holy Pete (5-2), a $100,000 Ruidoso Sale graduate trained by John Stinebaugh and owned by Zane Kiehne, looks to build on a recent trial runner-up finish behind House of Lords. He’s by Favorite Cartel and has finished in the money in 9 of 10 starts.

Ariatt (4-1), a $67,000 Heritage Place purchase by Favorite Cartel, and Church Spire (7-2), a stakes-placed son of Tres Seis who is a $50,000 Ruidoso graduate, both bring strong past performances into the trial.

Race 10 features Decision Made (5-2), a $50,000 supplemental entry. James Gonzales III trains the Kiss My Hocks gelding. He comes off a competitive third-place effort behind Ariatt and Electrifying Cowboy to qualify for the Rainbow Derby(G1) in his last start. He's paired with jockey Roman Cruz.

Also entered is Kempton (7-2), the 2024 Heritage Place Futurity finalist, trained by James J Gonzales III and owned by Ozaca Ranch, LLC.. Bred in Texas by Tyler Graham/Namgis QHs LLC, the Kiss My Hocks colt has won or placed in 8-of-8 starts, banking $641,828.  He will begin his stallion career in 2026 at Lazy E Ranch in Guthrie, Oklahoma.

The top 10 fastest qualifiers from Wednesday's trials will return on Monday, September 1, for one of the richest and most prestigious races of the Quarter Horse calendar, the Grade 1 All American Derby.

Stay tuned to StallioneSearch.com for full coverage of the qualifiers and upcoming final.

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