Magallanes Trains Three Fastest Autumn Derby Qualifiers at Grants Pass

Hector Magallanes trained the three fastest qualifiers for the $20,000-added Autumn Derby on Sunday at Grants Pass Downs, led by Stel Time, who won the first of two 400-yard trials in :19.728.

Stablemate Apolliticalcollusion posted the second-fastest time of :19.824 in the same race, while Jess F Y I won the second trial in :19.828. The final for 3-year-olds is scheduled for October 11.

Stel Time broke cleanly from post one, took the lead at the first call and held off Apolliticalcollusion by three-quarters of a length. The 3-year-old filly earned a 94 speed index over a fast track under the guidance of Kevin Orozco. The winning effort returned $11.20 to win on 5-1 odds.

Jeff Ray bred and owns Stel Time, who is out of Stella Corona, by Stel Corona. Hector Magallanes trains the Oregon-bred filly by Turbulent Times.

Stel Time was lightly raced as a two-year-old only, and was winless in two starts, but finished fourth in the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass. She has since won four of her last five starts, bringing her career record to four wins, one second and two thirds from 12 starts, with $21,555 in earnings.

Ridden by Mark Jasso, Apolliticalcollusion finished second in the opening trial and recorded the second-fastest qualifying time of :19.824. He broke first but stumbled at the sixteenth pole before finishing with a mild gain.

Butch and Stephanie Webb bred the gelding by leading second year sire Dulce Sin Tacha in Colorado out of Pollitical Lady V, by Apollitical Jess. Magallanes also conditions him for owner Alyson Lowe.

A $19,000 purchase at the 2024 Heritage Place Fall Mixed Sale, Apolliticalcollusion has two wins, five seconds and four thirds from 19 starts, with $32,224 in earnings. He placed second in the Far West Futurity Consolation and third in the Firecracker Futurity last year. This season, he has finished fifth in the Grants Pass Derby Challenge. He will seek his first stakes victory in the final.

Magallanes also trained the winner of the second trial, Jess F Y I, who posted the third-fastest time of :19.828. With Jasso aboard, the 3-year-old son of Gold Heart Eagle V battled for the lead and prevailed by half a length over Cinderella Jg.

Bred and owned by Michael and Shannon McKay, Jess F Y I is out of Time to Splash Bac, by Splash Bac. The gelding has won five of 11 starts and earned $80,088. His trial victory was his second consecutive win this season.

Jess F Y I won the John Deere Emerald Downs Juvenile Challenge and Firecracker Futurity as a 2-year-old, then finished second in the Los Alamitos Derby Challenge this May. He was also a finalist in the Grants Pass Derby Challenge in July.

CLICK HERE for the complete list of qualifiers.

Grants Pass Downs also marked Sunday’s card with Ladies Hat Day. Racegoers competed for cash prizes in categories including Best Autumn Theme Hat, Best Hat with Coordinating Outfit, Best Horse or Racing Theme Hat, and Most Creative or Original Hat. A freestyle children’s category was also part of the event.

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