Mesquite

Mesquite began his career as a 2-year-old and made his first lifetime start with a loss in a six-furlong race at Keenland on Oct. 4, 2025. Things immediately improved in his second career start when stretched out to a 1 1/16-mile route when he won his maiden race with a last-to-first rally in an 11-horse field at Churchill Downs on Nov. 7.

Mesquite made his stakes debut in his first start as a 3-year-old in the Grade 3 $250,000 Lecomte Stakes going 1 1/16 miles at Fair Grounds on Jan. 17, 2026. Sent off as the 4.20-1 second choice in a 10-horse field in the Lecomte, Mezquite closed from the rear half of the field to get up for second under jockey Flavien Prat, beaten just three-quarters of a length. The Lecomte was a points race on the Road to the Kentucky Derby presented by Woodford Reserve, and with his runner-up finish he earned 10 qualifying points.

Mesquite is trained by Cherie DeVaux. He was bred in Kentucky by the sire Union Rags out of the dam Taurasi by Mineshaft.