Second fastest qualifier from the trials, Hell On Wheels is the early favorite in Sunday's Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes.

© Los Alamitos

By Orlando Gutierrez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–FEBRUARY 19, 2026—After knocking on the door of a major victory for most of his young career, Valeriano Racing Stables’ Hell On Wheels V now takes center stage as the horse to beat in the $98,500 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes this Sunday night.

The sophomore brown gelding by Apollitical Jess looks to be the favorite in the 350-yard dash of this eight-horse field. Fastest qualifier Terry Mesu and stakes-placed filly Sentella Olimpia did not enter back for the final and instead will make their return starts later this year.

With those two out of the lineup, Hell On Wheels V—who posted the second-fastest qualifying time of :17.687—has the opportunity to roll to victory in the Maiden Stakes.

Trained by Jesus Nunez and ridden by Francisco Calderon, Hell On Wheels V was a gate-to-wire winner in the final trial. A high-profile $475,000 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place September Yearling Sale, the gelding had entered the trials still seeking his first career win despite finishing second or third in seven of his previous eight starts.

That maiden status is now a thing of the past for the son of the top-producing mare and 2014 Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity winner, Trendi.

“I was a little worried because he got in there first in the gate and he can be a little antsy,” Calderon said. “He did good today. He broke in front and stayed in front. His other rival in the (Two Million Invitational) was his partner Jarvis V, who was a little tougher. He ran a good race and fitted in this race pretty good. The time was pretty good. When they were breaking him, he was a little hectic but right now he’s been real professional. The only thing that concerns me is that when we go down the track, he wants to slow down. That’s why I tapped him once or twice. I think he’ll come back good for the final. You have to be on your toes with this one.”

Jarvis V has since finished third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

The main challenge may come from the Viramontes family’s Hassan PP. Bred by owner Efren Viramontes and trained by Rodolfo Viramontes, the Cyber Monday colt showed a strong finishing kick to qualify third-fastest with a time of :17.810. He will be ridden by Armando Viramontes, Rodolfo’s son, in a true family affair.

Adding to the drama of the night is the 15-1 upset winner of the first trial, Hot American Badazz. Owned by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches, LP, the Texas homebred provided the fireworks of the trials with a half-length victory, stopping the clock at :17.845.

Another sentimental favorite in the field is Slatedtoshine, owned by Mark Smith and Shirley Schvaneveldt. The Mpshinning filly carries the legacy of Shirley’s late husband, the legendary Blane Schvaneveldt, who remains the all-time leading trainer at Los Alamitos. A win on Sunday would be a special one for the Schvaneveldt family. Shirley’s son-in-law, Roman Figueroa, trains Slatedtoshine.

The Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes is restricted to horses that were still maidens as of November 1, 2025, providing a lucrative opportunity for blossoming sophomores to secure a major stakes trophy.

Rounding out this talented field are: Cheap Bar, Cmhowaboutthemcowboy, Hardtoxplain, and Favorite Mojo.

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