Already Favorite Prevails in $81,148 Clasico Alfredo Castro Rea

Fastest qualifier Already Favorite lived up to his billing Sunday evening at Hipodromo de las Américas, closing strongly to capture the $81,148 Clasico Alfredo Castro Rea for 2-year-old Quarter Horses.

Already Favorite stopped the timer in :17.67 for 350 yards, earning an 84 speed index. He edged Flying Rose by a head, with Hard To Cowboy another half-length back in third.

Ridden by Alejandro Gomez for trainer Carlos Alberto Jose Perez, Already Favorite earned $33,600 for the victory. The 2-year-old colt is owned by Cuadra Los Chivos and was bred in the United States by Grant Farms LLC.

Already Favorite is by leading sire Favorite Cartel, out of Shes Already Famous, by Mr Jess Perry. He was a $30,000 purchase at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

The victory improved Already Favorite's record to three wins and three seconds from six starts, while boosting his earnings from $60,775 to approximately $94,375. Earlier this season, he finished second in both the Jodys Glory Classic and The Prize Classic.

Already Favorite had entered Sunday's final as the fastest qualifier after winning his August 30 trial. The Hipodromo program also tabbed him as one of the leading choices for the 10-horse final.

Flying Rose earned $13,600 for her runner-up effort. Owned by Cuadra Alpuyeca, the 2-year-old daughter of Flying Cowboy 123 is out of Corona Tea Rose, by Corona Cartel. She was bred in the United States by Garlyn O. Shelton and is trained by Antonio Garcia Carranza. Alejandro Gomez Lopez had the riding assignment.

A $15,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale purchase in 2025, Flying Rose entered the final with one win, two seconds and a third from seven starts and earnings of $25,666. She had previously finished fourth in both the Jodys Glory Classic and AQHA Hipodromo de las Americas Juvenile Challenge.

Hard To Cowboy, another son of Flying Cowboy 123, finished third and collected $9,600. The colt races for Cuadra Bronco Rider and was bred in the United States by Louis A. Malechek III. Cesar Garcia Serrano trains Hard To Cowboy, who was ridden by Arturo Vega Moreno.

Out of Hardtoget, by Foose, Hard To Cowboy was a $90,000 purchase at the 2025 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. He came into Sunday's final with a 1-2-1 record from six starts and earnings of $38,590. His season included a victory in the Jodys Glory Classic and a fifth-place finish in the AQHA Hipodromo de las Americas Juvenile Challenge.

Completing the Clasico Alfredo Castro Rea were A Africana, Lucy Kate, Streakin Hot Fame, CV Star Spirit, Tricias Soul Train, Ion The Prospect and RR Streakin Big.

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