Fastest qualifier Arizona Favorite heads a field of 10 3-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 400-yard, $27,587 Adequan Sun Downs Derby Challenge Stakes at Sun Downs.

© Ginny Harding

KENNEWICK, WA--MAY 9, 2019Arizona Favorite, a homebred son of the Favorite Trick (TB) stallion Favorite Cartel and the fastest qualifier, heads a field of 10 3-year-olds entered back in Saturday’s 400-yard, $27,587 Adequan Sun Downs Derby Challenge Stakes at Sun Downs.

Trained by Hector Magallanes for owner K & R Allred Ranch LLC, Arizona Favorite made his season debut with a half-length victory in the last of two Sun Downs Derby Challenge trials on April 27. The gelding was coming off of a 2-year-old campaign during which he earned $36,255 from seven starts and finished second in the 350-yard, $137,000 Wild West Futurity (R) at Los Alamitos.

Arizona Favorite drew post 9 and will be ridden by Mark Jasso. Magallanes will also send out Singles Cruise, a California-bred Favorite Cartel filly owned by Barry and Janice Sather. The winner of last year’s Canada Cup Futurity (RG3) at Century Downs near Calgary, made her local debut with a 1 1/4-length victory as the even-money favorite in the first Sun Downs Derby Challenge trial.

Singles Cruise drew the rail post and will be ridden by Jake Samuels.

The winner of this race will earn a berth in the October 26 Adequan Derby Challenge Championship (G2) at Albuquerque Downs. The complete lineup, in post position order including jockey assignments:

1. Singles Cruise (Jake Samuels)
2. Summertime Hawk (Eduardo Gutierrez-Sosa)
3. Farmboy Payday (Jose A. Figueroa)
4. Kr Olive Oil (Jake Samuels)
5. Ivory Bac (Jaime E. Lopez)
6. Alabama Hills (Jose A. Guerrero)
7. GC Harrys Game (Robert Burney)
8. Loosin My Lover (Salvador Ibarra)
9. Arizona Favorite (Mark Jasso)
10. Jesstafiably Jess (Kassie Guglielmino)