(Grand Prairie, Texas - Thursday, October 27, 2022) - This Saturday night, 48 three-year-old Quarter Horses will take to the track at Lone Star Park looking to qualify for the $412,568.87 Texas Classic Derby (Grade 1).

With earnings of over $2.5 million, KJ Desparado highlights this year's hopeful sophomores. The son of World Champion Apollitical Jess has won four of five starts in 2022, including the Ruidoso Derby (G1) and was the runner-up in the Rainbow Derby (G1). Last year, the gelding scored a pair of victories in two of the world's biggest races for Quarter Horses, the All-American Futurity (G1) and Texas Classic Futurity (G1). Track Handicapper, Rick Lee, has assigned morning line odds of 2/5 for KJ Desparado in Race 6, the first trial of the night. Adrian Ramos will be in the irons as the gelding breaks from post position 8. Wesley Giles trains for owners owners John Lee, Kathy Lee, and Ruben Mares.

Favorite Blues Man, fresh off of a 1 1/2 length win in the $152,600 Dash For Cash Futurity (G2) on October 1, will run in the final trial of the night, Race 10. Francisco Calderon has the mount for trainer Rolando Almanza. The gelding by Favorite Cartel out of a Mr Jess Perry mare, Amore La Blue, is owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch, LLC.

Jockey Rodrigo Vallejo and trainer M. Heath Taylor are no strangers to the Lone Star Park winner's circle. The pair won last year's Texas Classic Derby with Empressum, and will team up once again in the trials with Desirio B Quick, Legacy Stone, and Lil Longmire.

The 10 fastest horses in Saturday's 440-yard trials will earn a spot in the starting gate for the November 19 final for the Texas Classic Derby (G1).

Post time for the 10 race card on Saturday is 6:05 p.m. (CT). The trials will be run as races 6-10 beginning at approximently 8:25 p.m. (CT).