Racing


Powerful Favorite Dominates Another Derby, Wins Governor's Cup
Powerful Favorite, under jockey Eduardo Nicasio, winning the $195,000 Governor's Cup Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Scott Martinez
Powerful Favorite Dominates Another Derby, Wins Governor's Cup

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 27, 2019—Rosenthal Ranch LLC's Powerful Favorite won his third derby of the year, while improving his 2019 record to perfect six for six after posting a dominant 1 ½ length victory in the $195,000 Governor's Cup Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Chris O'Dell, the 2-5 favorite Powerful Favorite broke on the lead from post number 10 and was never challenged from there on the way to covering the 400 yards in :19.565.

The gelding by Favorite Cartel had previously won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and the Grade 3 El Primero Del Año Derby. The track record for most derby wins is four set by Moonist in 2014. Powerful Favorite also became the eighth horse to win both the Governor's Cup Futurity and Derby. He's the first to sweep the two races since Hot Hitter in 2009-10.

Powerful Favorite in the winner's circle at Los Alamitos Race Course. © Scott Martinez
'"We are (Los Alamitos) Super Derby bound," said O'Dell when asked about the horse's future. "(Connie Rosenthal) made the $30,000 late payment to make him eligible to the Super Derby trials. (The Governor's Cup) is a nice race ecause he won the futurity last year and we like to support the California-bred program. The derbies are close to each other – the Golden State Derby trials are next week – so you can't run him in both. I have a nice filly, Terrific First Down, who is not California bred. I chose to run her in the Golden State Derby trials and put him in this race. He's rolled off six wins now. When he broke it was over. He's learned how to leave there. He's so quiet in there. When (Galloping Goddess) broke through I thought it might bother us a little bit, but he's turned into a professional. His heart must be as big as a watermelon. You can't beat the Favorite Cartels down the track. This horse can run."

Jockey Eduardo Nicasio returns to the Los Alamitos winner's circle aboard Governor's Cup Derby winner Powerful Favorite. © Scott Martinez
'"He's an amazing horse," winning rider Eduardo Nicasio added. "He's getting better and better with each race. He was in the gates for a long time, but he never moved. For a second I was nervous and I started thinking that maybe he wouldn't break, but he left there beautiful. What else can I say? After the 300 yard mark it was easy. He's a nice horse. I hope he stays sound and go to the Los Alamitos Super Derby."

'Powerful Favorite earned $79,800 for the win to take his career earnings to $579,935. He's now won nine of 15 career starts.

"It was my birthday two days ago," Connie Rosenthal said. "This was a nice birthday present."

'Rosenthal paid a nice chunk of change to make Powerful Favorite eligible to the Super Derby trials on October 19, but the owner said that there was never any hesitation in her mind to make the late payment.

Edurado Nicasioa nd Connie Rosenthal are all smiles following Powerful Favorite's win. © Scott Martinez
"Chris said 'I need $30,000 to put him in the Super Derby trials. Can you mail it to me today?' So I did," the owner said. "I put all my trust and faith in Chris. I knew about horse racing only through my husband (the late Bob Rosenthal), but I didn't follow it or was a student of the sport like he was. This whole process has made me a student of it. My husband always trusted his trainer, from H.L. Hooper to Blane Schvaneveldt and now to Chris O'Dell. We couldn't have asked for better trainers. Hooper taught us about the business. Blane took us through it. Chris has brought us to here. I can't be any happier about what has happened. It been a marvelous journey."

'Steve McIntyre and Marin Pura's Stel Corona gelding Cole Man 47 earned $32,300 for finishing second to take his career earnings to $239,338. Paul Jones saddled.

Ruth Barbour, Colten O'Dell, and Wendy O'Dell's Kiddy Up gelding Tac Me Up earned $22,800 for running third.

Wicked Affair, Stel A Gambler, Galloping Goddess, Hot Little Kiddy, You Caught My Eye, Jess Bein Me and No Telling completed the field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.