My Golden Boy Battles To $495,569 La Fiesta Futurity (G3) Victory At Albuquerque

My Golden Boy delivered a determined performance Sunday afternoon at The Downs at Albuquerque, holding off favored Flying Cowboys Candy to capture the Grade 3, $495,569 La Fiesta Futurity in a tightly contested finish.

Ridden by Jacob Enriquez, the two-year-old gelding broke sharply from post position four and quickly moved into contention. After racing just off the early leader, My Golden Boy took a narrow advantage and battled under pressure through the final yards, holding off Flying Cowboys Candy by a neck. He completed the 400-yard contest in :19.409 over a fast track, earning a 94 speed index while racing into a four-mph headwind.

Sent off at odds of 9-2, My Golden Boy returned $11.00 to win and secured the richest victory of his young career.

Owned by Christopher and Melody Lykins, My Golden Boy is trained by Renee Wilson. Bred in Texas by Valeriano Racing LLC/R. Medrano, the gelding is a $45,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate.

He is a son of leading first-crop sire Golden Boi, whose first crop of runners has already generated more than $1.4 million in progeny earnings. My Golden Boy is out of the winning Apollitical Jess mare My Mystery Lover.

Sunday's victory improved his career record to 8-3-2-1, with the $247,784 winner's share boosting his lifetime earnings to $304,870. The gelding entered the September 25 qualifying trials following a sixth-place finish in the All American Juvenile and was also a finalist in the Ruidoso Futurity (G1) earlier this season.

Flying Cowboys Candy turned in a determined runner-up effort under Christian Ramos, dueling with the winner throughout the closing stages before coming up a neck short. The 3-2 favorite broke third from post six, advanced to challenge for the lead, and stopped the clock in :19.445, earning a 93 speed index.

Owned by CHR Racing and trained by Tony Sedillo, Flying Cowboys Candy was bred by PV Quarter Horse Farms LLC. The $39,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate is a son of leading sire Flying Cowboy 123 out of the Cartels Candy Man mare Candy Cartels Candy, a half-sister to champion Jess Good Candy ($2,014,703), winner of the All American Futurity (G1).

Flying Cowboys Candy now owns a record of 10-3-5-1 with $296,091 in career earnings. The colt previously qualified for the All American Futurity (G1) and recorded runner-up finishes in both the Rainbow Juvenile and West Texas Juvenile.

Fastest qualifier Komandeaux rallied late to finish third under Sergio Becerra Jr., closing strongly from sixth during the early stages to secure the show position. Breaking fourth from post eight, the colt gained ground in the final strides and finished just a head behind Flying Cowboys Candy. He completed the distance in :19.460, earning a 92 speed index.

Owned by Homero Hermilo Campa-Mireles and trained by Omar Vargas, Komandeaux was bred by Bobby D. Cox. The $60,000 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale graduate is sired by champion sire Favorite Cartel and is out of the stakes-winning Jess Louisiana Blue mare Jessa Louisiana Zoom.

His third dam is four-time champion Corona Cash ($1,542,880), winner of the All American Futurity (G1).

Komandeaux now has a career record of 6-2-1-2 with $80,397 in earnings. Earlier this season, he finished fourth in the Rainbow Juvenile.

Mw Wishyouhadahero finished fourth after showing early speed before tiring late. Aint It Tempting, Tater Hill Senator, No Vacancee, Sephora 157, Dynastys Dash, and Metal Potion T completed the order of finish.

The La Fiesta Futurity (G3) was contested as the ninth and final race on Sunday's program at The Downs at Albuquerque, bringing together ten qualifying two-year-olds competing for one of the afternoon's richest purses.

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