LIGHTNING VAQUERA IS A FLYING FILLY IN WINNING THE GRADE 1 GOLDEN STATE MILLION FUTURITY

From posting the fastest qualifying time from post number one at 13-1 odds to scoring a neck victory from post number 10 as the 2-1 favorite in the Grade 1, $1,164,150 Golden State Million Futurity, La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC’s Lightning Vaquera has been a thundering force in her two starts since arriving at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Gerardo Vera for trainer Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez, the filly by Flying Cowboy 123 was fifth at the start of the Golden State Million final, but just like her name says, she was a flash of speed once she hit top gear. Taking the lead before the midway point, she held off Demler Quarter Horses’ Revenantly to win the second-richest Quarter Horse race contested so far in 2026.

Lightning Vaquera, who arrived after finishing out of the money in her starts at The Downs at Albuquerque, delivered two stellar performances under the lights at Los Alamitos. Her Golden State trial win was similar in style to her victory in the final, as she left the gate with the pack before accelerating quickly to take the lead and never looking back.

Then, in the Golden State Million final, track announcer Michael Wrona proclaimed in his race call that “Lightning strikes twice” just as the Sam Green-bred filly from New Mexico hit the wire first to win the 400-yard race. Covering the distance in :19.768, Lightning Vaquera earned $488,943 for the win. Revenantly, who was ridden by Christian Cardenas for trainer James J. Gonzales II, earned $197,905 for running second. The A Revenant colt, who was bred by Flag Ranch LLC, was the second-fastest qualifier from the trials, his time trailing only Lightning Vaquera’s clocking.

Owned by La Feliz Montana and Tabasco Racing LLC, Luxury Sin Tacha broke evenly with Lightning Vaquera as they both trailed Revenantly during the early going, and the Rodriguez trainee continued gamely through the lane to finish third. The Oklahoma-bred gelding by second-crop sire Dulce Sin Tacha earned $139,698 for his effort.

Lightning Vaquera, meanwhile, improved her record to two victories from four starts while giving her jockey, Gerardo Vera, the richest victory of his riding career. Vera credited Lightning Vaquera’s patient demeanor before the start as a key to victory, as there was a delay in the loading process.

“She was a little hesitant out of the gate since (Faultless acted up),” Vera said. “She didn’t know, but she was real quick out of there and she dominated them. I could see (Revenantly) right next to me, but she just kept grabbing that bit and getting stronger. It’s a blessing.”

The big change in post position from the trials to the final for the lightly raced fastest qualifier was among the storylines leading into this race, but Lightning Vaquera made it a non-factor.

“There’s always nerves, but thankfully everything went great and she won the race,” said owner Javier Rodriguez of La Feliz Montana. “When you have a final like this, of this magnitude, there’s always going to be great horses, good horses. I’m thankful to the team, my brother (Manuel Rodriguez), everyone, and thankfully things turned out well.”

Rodriguez was thrilled to have Gerardo Vera be a part of this victory.

“Gerardo is a hard worker. He helped me in Albuquerque, and I had to beg him to come and help us over here in California. He’s here every day galloping the horses. His girlfriend is Meagan Byers, who is Manny’s assistant. She’s a hard-working girl as well. (2025 AQHA champion jockey) Luis Martinez picked Luxury Sin Tacha, who ran third and is also a tremendous horse. Things turned out good.

“We have Happy Flying Bird and Blueyy on the backside here as well. They worked this morning and they worked amazingly. They ran third and fourth in the All American and we’re looking forward to seeing them race here.”

Trainer Manuel Rodriguez added that Lightning Vaquera “has been improving and she’s kept on improving. This was a very tough race with some great competitors. It was a bit close, but we won it. She always showed a lot of talent, from the beginning. We always had a lot of confidence in her. She had a little problem that we’d been addressing. I think we’ve got it and we’ve solved the problem and there she is, first at the finish line.

“Meagan is a great worker. She’s at the barn at 4 a.m. every day. The whole team has been great. It’s an awesome team and that’s what it takes to accomplish what we got tonight. I think we have it so dialed in that every piece of the puzzle is there and it shows the results with every single horse that we’ve got. We’ve been lucky and we like the environment.”

In addition to saddling Lightning Vaquera and Luxury Sin Tacha, Rodriguez also trains Jess Loaded and Jess B Boujee, who ran seventh and eighth in this race. He also trains Happy Flying Bird and Blueyy, who are expected to make their local debuts in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Sunday, November 22.

Johnny Trotter’s homebred filly Cartel Cowgirl 123, who previously competed in the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity, earned $81,490 for running fourth. She broke just behind Revenantly and was among the leaders the entire way before settling for fourth place.

The complete order of finish is as follows: Lightning Vaquera, Revenantly, Luxury Sin Tacha, Cartel Cowgirl 123, Fearless Family, Nuclear Arsenal, Jess Loaded, Jess B Boujee, Zero Down, and Faultless.

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