Fastest Qualifier Lightning Vaquera Headlines $1.16 Million Golden State Million Futurity Sunday

La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC's Lightning Vaquera, the fastest qualifier from 14 trials contested October 3, heads a competitive field of 10 juveniles in Sunday's $1,164,150 Golden State Million Futurity (G1) at Los Alamitos Race Course.

The 400-yard championship, the nation's second-richest futurity contested so far in 2026, features several accomplished Grade 1 performers, including Ed Allred's Faultless, Johnny Trotter's Cartel Cowgirl 123, and Dale Winterton's Nuclear Arsenal.

Lightning Vaquera, a daughter of Flying Cowboy 123, delivered the surprise performance of the trials, winning the 14th and final heat in :19.892 to secure the fastest qualifying time.

Trained by Manuel Rodolfo Rodriguez, the filly entered the trials winless in two previous starts at The Downs at Albuquerque. However, following a sharp 220-yard gate workout at Los Alamitos, she responded with a dominating performance at odds of 13-1.

Breaking sharply from the inside post, Lightning Vaquera quickly established a 1¼-length advantage before cruising to her first career victory. She covered the final 110 yards in :09.59, the fastest closing split among the top two qualifiers.

Rodriguez credited the filly's improvement to patient handling and additional gate preparation. Owner Javier Rodriguez said the connections remained confident in her ability despite earlier setbacks in New Mexico.

Lightning Vaquera drew post 10 for Sunday's final.

Demler Quarter Horses' Revenantly, a $115,000 Heritage Place purchase by A Revenant, posted the second-fastest qualifying time of :19.938 in the opening trial.

Trained by James J. Gonzales II and ridden by Joseph Belloc Jr., Revenantly broke sharply from post six and drew away to win by three-quarters of a length. His time stood as the fastest of the evening until Lightning Vaquera surpassed it in the final heat.

Revenantly, who previously finished third in an All American Futurity trial behind finalist Happy Flying Bird, will start from post five Sunday.

Rodriguez will saddle four finalists, including third-fastest qualifier Luxury Sin Tacha, a gelded son of Dulce Sin Tacha who stopped the clock in :19.971.

Owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Tabasco Racing, Luxury Sin Tacha was purchased for $120,000 at the Heritage Place Sale. Ridden by 2025 AQHA champion jockey Luis Martinez, the gelding overcame a slow beginning in the 13th trial to record his first career victory.

Luxury Sin Tacha drew post four.

Rodriguez's other finalists are MRB Racing LLC's Jess Loaded (:20.052) and Jess B Boujee (:20.059), both gelded sons of Apollitical Jess. Jess Loaded finished third behind Revenantly in the opening trial, while Jess B Boujee qualified with a runner-up effort in his heat.

They drew posts three and eight, respectively.

Among the leading challengers is Ed Allred's homebred Faultless, a colt by Golden Boi who qualified fourth-fastest in :19.995.

Trained by Scott Willoughby and ridden by Gabriel Lara, Faultless brings one of the strongest Grade 1 credentials into the final after finishing second by a nose in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) earlier this season.

Faultless overcame a less-than-perfect beginning in his Golden State trial before closing strongly to win by half a length. He covered his final 110 yards in :09.63.

Willoughby credited improved gate schooling for the colt's performance and believes a clean break will be important in Sunday's championship.

Faultless drew the rail.

Allred, Quarter Horse racing's all-time leading owner, will be seeking his third Golden State Million victory. His previous winners were Way Maker in 1989 and The Partys On Fire in 2009, the latter in partnership with Tom Seibly.

Gentry Farms and Jackpot Farms' Kentucky-bred filly Fearless Family qualified fifth-fastest for trainer Juan Aleman and jockey Martin Arriaga.

Johnny Trotter's Cartel Cowgirl 123, a finalist in the Rainbow Futurity (G1), earned another major championship opportunity with a victory in the second trial.

Trained by James J. Gonzales II, Cartel Cowgirl 123 has won three of her four career starts.

Steve Burns' Zero Down qualified seventh-fastest for trainer Mike Casselman, while Dale Winterton's Nuclear Arsenal secured the eighth qualifying position for trainer Paul Jones.

Nuclear Arsenal, a colt by Inspyre, has been one of the season's more productive yearling purchases. Acquired by Winterton for $20,000 at the 2025 Heritage Place Sale, the colt has qualified for the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1), Golden State Million Futurity (G1), and PCQHRA Breeders Futurity (G2).

He also finished third in the Ed Burke Million Futurity and has earned $132,220 while winning three of eight career starts.

The Golden State Million Futurity has a distinguished history, with past winners including Merridoc, Sgt Pepper Feature, Dashingly, Tolltac, Ah Sigh, Be A Bono, Tres Seis, Tres Passes, Higher Fire, and J Fire Up.

The Golden State Million Futurity is one of the premier events of the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse racing season, with Sunday's championship bringing together a combination of established Grade 1 performers and promising newcomers seeking their first major stakes victory.

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