Last Eagle V, Phillybuster Renew Rivalry In IV Derby Alfredo Castro Rea

A familiar rivalry will take center stage Sunday afternoon at Hipódromo de las Américas, where a field of five 3-year-old Quarter Horses will line up for the IV Derby Alfredo Castro Rea.

The featured event will open Sunday’s card as the first race, with an approximate post time of 3:00 p.m. The field will compete at 400 yards for an approximate purse of $31,363, plus added money.

Last Eagle V enters as the 7-5 morning-line favorite for Rancho Las Gaviotas. The son of Gold Heart Eagle V has an impressive record of five wins and three second-place finishes in 10 career starts, with earnings of approximately $302,800.

The gelding has been especially strong this season, winning three of five starts. In his most recent appearance on August 9, Last Eagle V defeated Phillybuster by a half-length at 440 yards in the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship. That victory followed his July 19 win in the Derby Las Américas, where he again defeated Phillybuster, this time by three-quarters of a length. Earlier in the season, Last Eagle V finished a narrow second to Phillybuster in the AQHA Derby Challenge.

Huberclein Gomez will return aboard Last Eagle V for trainer Liderme Rene Gomez Diaz.

Phillybuster will break directly to his outside from post three as the 8-5 second choice. The Apollitical Jess gelding has three wins, three seconds, and one third in 13 career starts, with earnings of approximately $55,720.

Phillybuster has finished first or second in each of his last five starts. He defeated Last Eagle V by a nose in the AQHA Derby Challenge on June 21, then finished second to his stablemate in both the Derby Las Américas and the AQHA Racing Challenge Championship. Miguel Angel Lopez will ride for trainer Liderme Rene Gomez Diaz and Rancho Las Gaviotas.

Dark Water Bay adds another major threat from post five at morning-line odds of 3-1. The son of Mr Jess Perry enters with four wins, five seconds, and four thirds in 13 career starts, with earnings of approximately $98,900. He comes into the Derby after a victory at 250 yards on August 16.

The gelding has consistently competed against Sunday’s two favorites. He finished third behind Last Eagle V and Phillybuster in the Derby Las Américas and again behind Phillybuster and Last Eagle V in the AQHA Derby Challenge. Dark Water Bay also has a notable connection to this event, having won the Alfredo Castro Rea as a 2-year-old in 2025, closing strongly to win by 1 1/2 lengths.

Angel Santillan will ride Dark Water Bay for trainer Antonio Garcia Carranza and owner Cuadra Alpuyeca.

One Famous Temptaton, listed at 7-1, and Blue On The Run, at 11-1, complete the five-horse field.

With Last Eagle V and Phillybuster separated by narrow margins throughout the season and Dark Water Bay returning to the race he won a year ago, the IV Derby Alfredo Castro Rea brings together three proven rivals for another 400-yard showdown on Sunday at Hipódromo de las Américas.

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