LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 17, 2017—Keith Nellesen's undefeated colt KVN Corona posted a fantastic victory in the sixth of 10 trials to the $400,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity on Sunday at Los Alamitos. A total of 74 horses competed in the trials with those with the 10 fastest times advancing to the final to be held during Los Alamitos Equine Sale weekend on Saturday, October 7.

Making his first start since winning the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity on June 18, KVN Corona showed no signs of rustiness in his start, instead cruising to a 2-¼ length victory and the fastest qualifying time of :17.694 in the 350-yard race. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez and saddled by Paul Jones, the colt by Corona Cartel improved his record to a perfect four wins in as many starts.

"That really was a great and he's just a great horse," said Jones, a 14-time AQHA Champion trainer. "I've said before that he's just a professional. He's good at the barn and he's easy to train. He goes in the paddock and he's a little pro. He goes on the track and does his job. He's just full of talent. He just has a lot of talent. He's a nice horse. I couldn't say much more on how nice of a horse he is. It's a pleasure to have a horse like him."

In addition to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity final, which will be held on October 7, KVN Corona is eligible to compete in the trials to the Golden State Million Futurity and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity as well.

"We got a nice out here," Jones added. "He did what we wanted him to do. He ran a nice race and stayed out of trouble. Ramon did not have to ride him too hard. He kept his winning streak alive. We're happy."

Bred in Utah by McColee Land & Livestock LLC., KVN Corona is out of the Executive Menace mare Executive Looks. He's a full brother to 2016 Los Alamitos Super Derby winner Big Lew. It was announced earlier this week that Big Lew would stand at Lazy E Ranch in 2018 after the end of his 4-year-old racing campaign.

Ron Hartley's The Revenant, third in the Governor's Cup Futurity in his previous outing, broke out and bumped after the start, but was solid in the final half of the race on the way to the second fastest qualifying time of :17.720 in trial five. Ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer John Cooper, the Favorite Cartel gelding defeated an excellent field of juveniles that included Kindergarten Futurity finalist Perfect Az Can Be and Governor's Cup finalist Effortless Effort. The Revenant crossed the wire a neck ahead of Chris or Jim Nebeker's Hes Our Favorite while winning his second race in five starts. He has hit the board in all five of his career starts, but has faced trouble in four of those outings.

"He's coming around," Cooper said. "He reminds me a lot of a young Moonist in that he wants to make a lot of mistakes. He didn't break and tried to run on again. He reminds of Moonist in the way that he's started, but there's no many like Moonist. (The Revenant) is a nice horse."

"This boy is pretty good," added Hartley of James Markum and Steve Burns-bred runner.

Jose Flores and Steve Mickaelian's Apollitical Stone delivered another tremendous trial performance with a 1 ½ daylight victory in the second of 10 trials. Ridden by Cruz Mendez, the JEH Stallion Station-bred runner led from start to finish and had a big advantage the entire way.

Apollitical Stone finished with the third fastest qualifying time of :17.731 and is now a perfect three out of three in trials. He won his Ed Burke Million trial a half-length and his John Deere California Juvenile Challenge by ¾ lengths. He was fourth to KVN Corona in the Ed Burke final and second to SC Vapor Trail in the John Deere California Juvenile final.

John Firth's Hard Headed Chick, who looked great when winning an allowance here on July 30, won her trial by a half-length in the fourth fastest qualifying time of :17.739. With De Alba up for trainer Lin Melton, the Hard Hitting filly was picking up her third victory in seven starts. Firth and Hartley bred the brown filly.

Owned by Davidson, Cannon, Treece, et al, Wild Wonder rounded out the top five list of qualifiers after cruising to a solid half-length victory in :17.752 in the fourth trial of the night. Ridden by Roberto Hernandez for trainer Charles Treece, the Stel Corona gelding picked up his third win in five career starts.

He came into this race after a troubled fourth in the $25,000 California Breeders Freshman Stakes, but his trial effort was reminiscent of his solid allowance win on May29. Wild Wonder began his career with a 1-¼ length win in early April.

The complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.