LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 8, 2017—Trainer Chris O’Dell saddled the two fastest qualifiers to the $390,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity at 350 yards after Abigail Kawananakoa’s Chance To Fire posted the top time of :17.706 and Rosenthal Ranch’s Effortless Effort remained undefeated after winning his trial in a time of :17.713 on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

A total of 59 juveniles competed in the Governor’s Cup trials with the 10 horses with the fastest times returning for the final to be held on California Breeders Champions Night on Saturday, July 29. O’Dell has been there before, as the winning trainer of the Governor’s Cup Futurity with Phoebes Dynasty in 2015. He’ll now have two outstanding runners in this year’s futurity final.

"We’re in the catbird’s sit, but that’s where the pressure is," O’Dell said with a smile. "We ran (Chance to Fire) back pretty quick to get here today, but he’s sound and happy and we thought we better give it a chance."

Chance To Fire, a $170,000 purchase at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, finished a solid third to KVN Corona in the $1,000,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity final on June 18, the only loss in his now four race career. Chance To Fire is a half-brother to multiple stakes winner Nymph.

"Chance To Fire had post number 10 on the night of the Ed Burke and I think he got a little lost being out there by himself," O’Dell said. "We weren’t going to beat KVN Corona on that night, but my horse broke out and looked lost."

Ridden by Cody Jensen, the gelding by Walk Thru Fire found the winner’s circle just fine in his Governor’s Cup trial, as broke nicely from post number three and just pulled away from his rival en route to a length victory. Jensen took a jet from Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico after final Rainbow trial today to ride at Los Alamitos on Saturday night. At the Orange County oval, Jensen was on two more jets that go by the names of Chance To Fire and Effortless Effort.

Owned by Rosenthal Ranch, Effortless Effort led from start to finish on the way to a length victory in his trial race. The Favorite Cartel gelding also won his Ed Burke Million Futurity trial and his maiden race by 1 ¼ lengths.

"It’s nice that he ran so fast," O’Dell added. "He broke good tonight. In the trials for Ed Burke Million he didn’t break very good. He hopped out of the gate. Tonight he left there running. He’s a nice colt. He’s flown under the radar and hasn’t gotten a lot of chatter. Maybe he’ll get some chatter now.

"That colt is a real scary cat. He’s starting to grow into himself and relax. He’s better with the pony horse going into the gate. He’s better in the gate, he’s better in the paddock, everything is getting better for him. He has a bright future. I’m glad for the Rosenthals. They’ve been with me a long time."

Bred by Dr. Steve Burns, Effortless Effort was purchased for $19,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. Out of the Special Effort mare Madonna Effort, Effortless Effort is a half-brother to Smokey Stone, runner-up in the Rainbow Derby and third place finisher in the All American Futurity. Effortless Effort is also a half-brother to Retama Park Futurity runner-up Angelina Ballerina.

Martha Wells’ Yanque won the final trial of the night, but most importantly the Favorite Cartel gelding posted the third fastest qualifying time of :17.813. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Matt Fales, Yanque was enjoying his first career win after three straight runner-up efforts. Wells is also the breeder of this gray California-bred out of Red Hawk Chick.

Fortuna Properties, Inc’s Ditto Head was the surprise of the night, as he won the second trial of the evening at odds of 48-1. Ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer Mike Casselman, the Foose gelding was making only his second career start. He was disqualified from sixth and placed seventh for bumping in his only other outing back on May 19.

"This horse was quite a project," Casselman said. "First time we ran him he was tough to saddle. He’s had a few little shin problems. We waited a long time to run him back again. We were hoping he would step up and do well. He’s been a good project to get everything to fit together."

Darling Farms, Jaime Gomez, and Ernesto Solis’ J Fire Up, the runner-up in the Ed Burke Million, broke out at the start of her trial, but then flew in the middle part of the race when posting a ¾ length win and the fifth fastest qualifying time of :17.847. Jose Nicasio was aboard the filly trained and bred by Gomez.

"When she took the lead, she really took off," Gomez said. "She lugged in once she got in front. I think there’s still room for her to improve. She’s been such a nice filly to be around and what a great race she ran for us in the Ed Burke Million. I’m really happy with the way she’s come along."

J Fire Up is by Kiddy Up and out of the Walk Thru Fire mare This Boogie Fires. The complete list of qualifiers to the Governor’s Cup Futurity CLICK HERE.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.