FDD Dreams capped a remarkable 2025 season to earn AQHA World Champion, Champion 3 Year Old, Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding honors after a campaign that saw him capture multiple Grade 1 victories and earn more than $1.28 million. The New Mexico homebred son of FDD Dynasty and Treasured Dreams was the first 3 year old in decades to win both the All American Derby-G1 and the Champion of Champions-G1 in the same year, a rare double not accomplished since 1989. He also added a win in the Ruidoso Derby-G1 to his impressive résumé, finishing with five wins from eight starts against top company throughout the season. His success in graded stakes showcased his rare blend of speed and competitiveness.
FDD Dreams was bred and owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC, trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez and ridden by Luis Martinez throughout his championship campaign.
Champion 2 Year Old, Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding – Political Twist
Political Twist earned 2025 AQHA Champion 2 Year Old, Champion 2-Year-Old Gelding honors after a remarkable season in which he won six of eight starts, including key victories in the Ruidoso Futurity- G1 and the West Texas Futurity-G2. He also finished second in the prestigious All American Futurity-G1 and was a finalist in the Los Alamitos 2 Million Futurity-G1, showcasing both speed and consistency at the highest level of juvenile racing, and banking $1,138,430 for the year.
Political Twist was bred by MJ Farms, owned by La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC and Ray Willis, trained by Xavier E. Rodriguez and ridden by Luis Martinez throughout his championship season.
Champion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Gelding – Hooked N Gone
Hooked N Gone earned 2025 AQHA Champion Aged Horse, Champion Aged Gelding honors following a strong campaign against top-level older competition. The Oklahoma-bred son of PYC Paint Your Wagon and Pretty Girl Kate was one of the division’s most consistent performers, scoring key victories in the Debbie Schauf Remington Park Invitational Championship-G1 and the AQHA Racing Prairie Meadows Championship Challenge-G2. In addition to those big wins, he also finished second in the Dee Raper Sooner State Stakes and was third in the AQHA Racing Championship Challenge-G1, finishing the year with two wins from five starts and bankroll just over $230,000.
Hooked N Gone was bred and owned by Regina Laymon of Neosho Falls, Kan., trained by Dean R. Frey and Victor Ibarra, and ridden during the season by Rolando Raudales, Jesus Ayala and Bryan Candanosa.
Champion 2-Year-Old Colt – Enforce
Enforce earned 2025 AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Colt honors after a powerful freshman campaign that included three wins from seven starts, headlined by a victory in the Golden State Million Futurity-G1 and finishing with earnings of $606,079. The homebred son of Favorite Cartel and Remember Me Rose raced with poise and strength all season, emerging as one of the top juveniles in the nation.
Owned by West Texas Racing Partners LLC, Enforce was bred by Dr. Steve Burns, trained by Christopher O’Dell and piloted by Jesus Ayala throughout his championship season.
Champion 2-Year-Old Filly – Flying Joy 1
Flying Joy 1 claimed the title of 2025 AQHA Champion 2-Year-Old Filly after a standout season that saw her win three of six starts and earn $230,834 while consistently competing against top juvenile fillies. The Oklahoma-bred filly scored her biggest victory in the Oklahoma Futurity-G2 at Remington Park, where she surged to the lead under jockey Ricky Ramirez for trainer Trey Wood. Her strong juvenile campaign also included a solid showing in the Remington Park Oklahoma-Bred Futurity-RG1 and multiple other stakes placings that highlighted her early speed and competitive consistency.
Bred in Oklahoma by Cuadra JM LLC, Flying Joy 1 was owned throughout the season by David R. Rogers. Her performances in 2025 marked her as one of the most reliable and accomplished 2-year-old fillies on the circuit.
Champion 3-Year-Old Colt – Just Dulce
Just Dulce put together a championship-caliber season in 2025, capturing two of the sport’s big derbies to earn AQHA Champion 3-Year-Old Colt honors. The Jess Good Candy colt scored his biggest victory in the Texas Classic Derby-G1 at Lone Star Park, holding off top company in a gritty head-bob finish. Earlier in the year, he also won the Dash For Cash Derby-G2, showcasing his speed and resilience across multiple graded stakes distances. Just Dulce finished the campaign with three wins from five starts and earnings of more than $230,000.
Bred by Bob and Jerry Gaston in Texas, Just Dulce was campaigned throughout the season by the Just Dulce Partnership. He was conditioned by trainer Marc Jungers and ridden by jockey Christian Ramos, who guided him to strong performances in headline events.
Champion 3-Year-Old Filly – Shaken Goin On
Shaken Goin On earned 2025 AQHA Champion 3-Year-Old Filly honors following a remarkable sophomore campaign in which she won six of eight starts and regularly competed and prevailed against elite company. The Oklahoma-bred filly’s year was highlighted by victories in the Los Alamitos Oaks-G1, showcasing her ability to perform in graded stakes company, as well as wins in the Southern California Derby-G2 and the Justanoldlove Handicap, cementing her status as the division’s top filly. She also finished third against older mares in the Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1, underlining her consistency against open stakes fields.
Shaken Goin On was bred and owned by James Sills and Abel Flores, trained by Eddie D. Willis, Albert Valles and Rodolfo Valles, and ridden primarily by Justine Klaiber. Her combination of speed, adaptability and toughness made her one of the standout performers of the 2025 season.
Champion Aged Stallion – Unrelentless
Unrelentless took command of the older male division in 2025, earning AQHA Champion Aged Stallion honors with a series of strong performances against elite competition. The son of Hes Relentless was highlighted by a powerful victory in the Brad McKinzie Winter Championship Stakes at Los Alamitos in February where he showcased his early speed and stamina against top-tier older horses. He also had third place finishes in the Champion of Champions-G1 and Leo Stakes-G1 racing in California and Oklahoma as well. Throughout the season, he also posted consistent placings in graded company, proving his durability and competitiveness.
Unrelentless was bred by Flag Ranch LLC, campaigned by Reliance Ranches, LLC, trained by Eddie Willis and ridden by Justine Klaiber and Eduardo Nicasio. His black type performances throughout the season distinguished him as the division’s top aged stallion.
Champion Aged Mare – Curls Joyful Wagon
Curls Joyful Wagon captured 2025 AQHA Champion Aged Mare honors following a strong season in open company that included multiple graded stakes successes. The Oklahoma-bred 5-year-old daughter of PYC Paint Your Wagon scored key wins in the Junos Request Stakes-G1 and the Decketta Stakes-G2 at Remington Park and posted placings in other graded stakes such as the Las Damas Handicap-G2 and Charger Bar Handicap-G1. Over the course of the season she won two of seven starts and earned more than $139,000, showcasing her consistency and competitiveness at the highest level of racing.
Curls Joyful Wagon was bred and owned by Martin Stacy, trained by John Stinebaugh, and handled by jockeys Edwin Escobedo, Francisco Calderon and Ali Rivera Cardona during her championship year.
Champion Distance Horse – Handin Out Candy
Handin Out Candy dominated distance races during the 2025 season, earning 2025 AQHA Champion Distance Horse honors with an outstanding campaign in routes and extended challenges. The 6-year-old gelding won six of seven starts, including major victories in the Q-Racing Video Distance Challenge Championship-G1, the Downs at Albuquerque Distance Challenge-G2 and the King Rick Rack Stakes-G2, showcasing his stamina and endurance over longer courses.
Handin Out Candy was bred by Paris Wixon, owned by Emilio Perez (who claimed him for $20,000 in 2023), trained by Paul Sedillo and Jorge Luis Sanchez Jr., and ridden by Noe Villatoro and Omar Iturralde throughout his championship season.
Canadian Champion – Had To Be Fabulous
In back to back years, Had To Be Fabulous was crowned with AQHA Canadian Champion honors after completing an undefeated season in seven starts, capturing four top Canadian derbies along the way and maintaining a perfect record against top competition north of the border.
He is bred and owned by Carol and Jaime Robertson. Bryn Robertson trained the Canadian Champion who regularly had Ismael Mosqueira aboard.
Mexican Champion – Rey De Manny
Rey De Manny dominated Mexican Quarter Horse racing in 2025, earning 2025 AQHA Mexican Champion honors with an impressive undefeated six-race campaign. He was the first 2-year-old Mexican Quarter Horse to win the Mexico Triple Crown, including wins in the Mexico Futurity-RG3, Garanones Futurity-RG2 and Subasta Selecta Futurity-RG2, showcasing both early speed and competitive grit throughout his championship run.
Rey De Manny was bred by Abelardo Gallegos, owned by Joel Reyes Camelo, trained by Ashley Cirilo and ridden by Nestor E. Duran during his standout season.
In addition to celebrating the standout equine performers of the year, the AQHA also honored the individuals and teams whose excellence behind the scenes helped shape the 2025 racing season.
AQHA Champion Breeder — MJ Farms
MJ Farms repeated as AQHA Champion Breeder for 2025 after an exceptional year in which horses bred under its program earned more than $6.6 million with 92 wins from 129 starts. The award was highlighted by the success of top performers including King Of The Tide, winner of the All American Futurity-G1, and supported by a deep roster of stakes-capable runners.
AQHA Champion Owner — La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC
La Feliz Montana Ranch LLC was named AQHA Champion Owner after racing earners of more than $2 million during the 2025 season. The homebred campaign of FDD Dreams, who captured major Grade 1 races and season-long consistency, anchored the ranch’s success. The stable also competed successfully in partnership with other top performers, including Political Twist.
AQHA Champion Trainer — Xavier E. Rodriguez
Xavier E. Rodriguez earned Blane Schvaneveldt Champion Trainer honors for his outstanding 2025 season. Rodriguez’s horses amassed more than $3.3 million in earnings, including multiple divisional champions such as Political Twist and FDD Dreams, marking him as one of the sport’s most successful and consistent conditioners.
AQHA Champion Jockey — Luis Martinez
Rising to the top of his profession, Luis Martinez was named AQHA Champion Jockey for 2025 after his mounts earned more than $3.9 million over the course of the season. Martinez’s success was fueled by multiple top performances aboard graded-stakes winners, including champion-earning mounts such as FDD Dreams and Political Twist, establishing him as the leading rider in Quarter Horse racing for the year.
