Last Eagle V extended his stakes-winning streak to three Sunday afternoon, defeating stablemate Phillybuster over a sloppy track in the $31,500 IV Derby Alfredo Castro Rea at Hipódromo de las Américas.

The familiar rivals led a field of five 3-year-old Quarter Horses over 400 yards, with Dark Water Bay finishing third. Last Eagle V stopped the clock in :19.49 under Huberclein Gomez and earned $16,380 for Rancho Las Gaviotas. Liderme Rene Gomez Diaz trains both the winner and runner-up.

The one-two finish added to an already impressive season for Rancho Las Gaviotas, who has secured berths for both Last Eagle V and Phillybuster in the October 17 AQHA Challenge Championships at The Downs at Albuquerque. Last Eagle V earned his berth in the Championship Challenge, while Phillybuster qualified for the Derby Challenge.

Watch Race 1 - The Alfredo Castro Rea Derby for replay

Sunday’s victory continued a productive season in Mexico for Last Eagle V. He won the Derby Las Américas in July before defeating Phillybuster again in the AQHA Hipódromo de las Américas Championship Challenge on August 9. His latest win marked their third consecutive stakes meeting with Last Eagle V finishing in front.

Phillybuster had held the advantage earlier in the season, narrowly defeating Last Eagle V in the June 21 Adequan Derby Challenge. Last Eagle V turned the tables the following month and has maintained the upper hand through their next two encounters.

Rancho Las Gaviotas owns the 3-year-old gelding, who was bred in the United States by Brian Gunder. Gold Heart Eagle V sired Last Eagle V, who is out of Ifuaintfirstulast, by First Down Dash.

A $16,000 graduate of the 2024 LQHBA Yearling Sale, Last Eagle V now has six wins and three seconds from 11 starts, with earnings exceeding $320,000.

Before relocating to Mexico, Last Eagle V established himself in Louisiana with a victory in the Grade 2 Mardi Gras Futurity during his juvenile season. He also finished fifth in the Grade 1 LQHBA Louisiana Million Futurity and returned to Louisiana Downs this spring to finish fifth in the Mardi Gras Derby before making his first start at the Hipódromo this season.

Phillybuster collected $7,245 for second under Mario Alberto Lopez Marmolejo, bringing his earnings to approximately $63,000. The gelding has three wins, four seconds and one third from 14 starts.

The runner-up has finished first or second in each of his last six starts, five of which were stakes races. His run began with a victory over Dark Water Bay in the AMCCCCM Derby on May 10, followed by a nose victory over Last Eagle V in the Adequan Derby Challenge. He has since finished second to his stablemate in the Derby Las Américas, the August Championship Challenge and Sunday’s Alfredo Castro Rea Derby.

Phillybuster races for Rancho Las Gaviotas. MJ Farms bred the gelding in the United States out of Ima China Rush, by Rushago. He is a son of Apollitical Jess.

During his juvenile season in Louisiana, Phillybuster competed in five futurity trials without advancing to a final. He opened his Mexican campaign this year with a fifth-place finish in the Easily A Possum Classic before earning his first stakes victory in May.

Phillybuster sold for $97,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and was later repurchased for $30,000 at the 2026 Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale.

Dark Water Bay earned $3,623 for third, increasing his earnings to approximately $103,000. He now has four wins, five seconds and five thirds from 14 starts. Angel Santillan rode the gelding for Cuadra Alpuyeca. Antonio Garcia Carranza trains the multiple stakes winner.

Honored as the American Champion Two-Year-Old Gelding in Mexico for 2025, Dark Water Bay won the Alfredo Castro Rea Classic and Jody’s Glory Classic during his juvenile campaign. He also finished second in the John Deere Mexico Juvenile Challenge, Juvenile Championship, Prize Classic and Las Américas Futurity.

This season, Dark Water Bay finished second to Phillybuster in the AMCCCCM Classic and third behind the two Rancho Las Gaviotas runners in both the Adequan Derby Challenge and Derby Las Américas. He also finished fourth in the Easilyapossum Classic. Sunday’s result again placed him behind the same pair.

Mike Vaughan bred Dark Water Bay in Oklahoma out of Aqua Girl, by Corona Cartel. Mr Jess Perry sires the gelding, who sold for $77,000 at the 2024 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.

One Famous Temptaton and Blue On The Run completed the remaining order of finish.

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