Faust Posts Fastest Time in $250,000-Est. La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby Trials

Faust turned in the fastest qualifying time Friday evening at The Downs at Albuquerque as three 400-yard trials determined the 10 finalists for the $250,000-est. La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby.

The 10 qualifiers will return to The Downs at Albuquerque for the final on Sunday, October 18. The trials were for 3-year-old Quarter Horses remaining eligible for the La Fiesta Quarter Horse Derby.

Faust, a 3-year-old son of leading sire Apollitical Jess, saved his best effort for the final trial of the evening, defeating Shimmery by two lengths in Race 12 while stopping the timer in :19.466, the fastest clocking from the three trials.

Owned by Alepony, LLC and trained by Salvador R. Soto, Faust was ridden by Noe Garcia, Jr. The gelding was bred in New Mexico by MJ Farms from the Jesse James Jr mare Astica.

Faust was a $165,000 purchase at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. Friday's victory improved his career record to two wins, four seconds and one third from 12 starts with earnings of $91,958. He was second in the West Texas Futurity and was also a finalist in the Ruidoso Invitational Stakes.

Mr High Five posted the second-fastest qualifying time when he rallied to win the opening derby trial, Race 10, in :19.576. The Apollitical Jess gelding closed strongly to defeat Racy 123 by a half-length.

Tungsten Racing Partnership and Heysol Howlet own Mr High Five, who was bred in Oklahoma by Sam W Green. Marco A. Flores trains the gelding, and Sergio Becerra, Jr. was aboard for Friday's victory.

Out of the FDD Dynasty mare Ms Southern Dynasty, Mr High Five was a $155,000 Heritage Place Yearling Sale graduate in 2024. He has won five of 12 career starts with two thirds and earnings of $259,912. His résumé includes a victory in the Rainbow Invitational Stakes, and he was a finalist in the All American Derby (G1) and All American Juvenile.

Racy 123 earned the third-fastest qualifying time despite finishing second to Mr High Five in Race 10. The 3-year-old Flying Cowboy 123 gelding stopped the timer in :19.638, finishing a half-length behind the winner after battling on the lead.

Tomas L. Avitia owns and bred Racy 123 in Oklahoma. Arnulfo Cardenas conditions the gelding, who was ridden Friday by Gabriel Medrano. Racy 123 is out of the First Down Dash mare Racy Cowgirl.

Racy 123 has compiled a record of one win, five seconds, and seven thirds from 14 career starts while earning $106,919. He previously finished third in the La Fiesta Futurity (G3).

The remaining qualifiers, in order of time, were Cd Favorite Fire (:19.739), The Diesel Train (:19.743), Terry Mesu (:19.761), Cowboy Corona 123 (:19.771), Shezdanstyforsure (:19.821), Shimmery (:19.840), and Cowboy Reason Mv (:19.884). Cd Favorite Fire won Race 11 by a neck in :19.739.

CLICK HERE for a complete list of qualifiers with times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, and jockeys.

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