Star-Studded Roll Call: Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby Features Elite Field On Sunday

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA—November 2, 2026

For every stakes race featuring trials, racing observers typically gravitate toward the marquee names entered, while imagining a dream final. Of course, the exciting trials are run, and often new stars emerge or major upsets occur, often resulting in a final lineup few could have predicted.

Then there is the lineup set for the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby to be held this Sunday night.

This time, just about every big-name contender and stakes winner found a way to qualify from the 400-yard trials, making this year’s final very close to a complete roll call of who’s who in the sophomore division at Los Alamitos.

Just look at the elite field set to load into the gate (listed by fastest qualifying time):

  • POLITICAL TWIST – The AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding is already a two-time Grade 1 winner of $1,671,159. The son of Apollitical Jess ran in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity final last season and now has the opportunity to capture his first local stakes victory following a dominant performance as the fastest qualifier. He’s also won 10 of 13 career starts.
  • DOODAH CARTEL – The Favorite Cartel colt was the story of the meet's first three months, sweeping the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and the Grade 2 El Primero Del Año Derby. The winner of $368,753 has consistently delivered top-tier performances and will look to secure the crown as the season’s top 3-year-old with a victory on Sunday.
  • ENFORCE – The Favorite Cartel colt hails from one of the premier families in Quarter Horse racing, counting three millionaires among his brothers: Cyber Attack, Bomb Cyclone, and Powerful Favorite. Enforce was named the AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt last year after a super campaign capped by his victory in the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity.
  • SG JACOB JAY – Another standout Favorite Cartel colt and stakes winner this season, he displayed his trademark grit with a victory in his Super Derby trial. He enters the final seeking his first Grade 1 title to put an exclamation point on a strong campaign that has seen him take his season earnings to $40,175.
  • BEUTEEFUL – The KVN Corona filly has enjoyed a glorious sophomore campaign. She won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks before defeating older distaffers in the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap to secure a presumptive berth in the Grade 1 Champion of Champions. A winner of nine of 13 career starts; she’ll look to become the first filly since the great Flash N Roll in 2019 to win the Super Derby. A stakes winner during her freshman season, she is firmly established as one of the nation's premier fillies.
  • HI OCTANE – Sired by Apollitical Jess, this gelding captured the Grade 2 Golden State Derby by ¾ lengths and has delivered strong, consistent efforts at the Orange County oval, pushing his career bankroll to $340,480.
  • BROTHER RAY – The Favorite Cartel gelding won the Governor’s Cup Derby in hard-fought fashion over a stellar field that included Doodah Cartel, and he is no stranger to graded stakes finals after running second in the El Primero. His full brother is $160,000 earner Ray Yeigh, a former Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity finalist.
  • FEAR MY LEGACY – Sired by Walk Thru Fire, this gelding is out of the great broodmare Fredaville, making him a full brother to three-time champion and $708,000 earner Kiss Thru Fire. His elite family also feature champion Fredricksburg and top producer Dasha Freda.
  • FAMOUS TALK – Sired by One Famous Eagle, this gelding is out of Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity winner Little Talks, a family that includes standout runners Rock You, Ali Babe Foose, and Devils Tower. Famous Talk kicked off the current meet in winning fashion by taking top honors in the Holiday Handicap.
  • SHINY NEW – The filly by Mpshinning finished third in last year’s Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and has consistently qualified for major stakes finals. She is a half-sister to Go Man Go Handicap winner Mask Mandate and Governor’s Cup Futurity winner Contentious.

While a few notable names missed advancing from the trials, this Super Derby lineup is packed with absolute star power. Without a doubt, this will be one of the signature races of the 2026 season, with the winner earning a presumptive berth into the prestigious Grade 1 Champion of Champions on Saturday, December 12.

The post-position draw for the Super Derby will take place on Thursday. Sunday’s program will also feature the running of the Town Policy Handicap.

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