LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 12, 2020—Ed Allred's Nomadic, who was the fastest qualifier to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year, posted the fastest qualifying time to the $185,000 Governor's Cup Derby on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

With Vinnie Bednar aboard for trainer Scott Willoughby, Nomadic dominated right from the start, leading early by 1-½ lengths on the way to posting a ¾ length victory in the second of two derby trials.

The gelding by 2020 leading sire Favorite Cartel covered the 400 yards in :19.59, which was 13/100ths of second faster than both Cattail Cove and Runforyourlife, who finished in a dead-heat in this trial while posting the second fastest qualifying time.

Led by Nomadic, Cattail Cove and Runforyourlife, the horses with the 10 fastest times advanced to the Governor's Cup Derby final to be held on California Breeders Champions Night on Saturday, July 25.

"He ran big," Willoughby said of Nomadic. "He's a great horse. When he posted the fastest time to the Two Million last year, I honestly did not think anybody could beat him. Obviously, there were some great horses in the Two Million final. He just didn't get away from the gates in the Two Million as well as he usually does. It cost him the race."

Nomadic flew out of the gate in his derby trial in route to his fourth victory in nine career starts. A total of 15 sophomores were in action in the two derby trials with the following horses advancing to the final: Nomadic (:19.59), Cattail Cove (:19.725), Runforyourlife (:19.725), Up For Speed (:19.805), Close To It (:19.836), Just Be Real (:19.911), Fayvorite Chick (:19.967), Bono Is Good (:20.032), Fire By Night (:20.049) and Come Forth (:20.094).

Fourth in the Two Million Futurity, the Allred-bred Nomadic was making his first start since running seventh in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on February 8.

"We've been sitting around waiting on him just gearing him for this race," Willoughby said. "It looks like he's set up well for the final."

Allred and Willoughby dominated the Governor's Cup Derby trials, as they will be represented by a total of four sophomores in the final. The Allred-homebred Up For Speed was the other trial winner on the night, scoring a ¾ length victory after surging past stablemate Just Be Real at the midway point of the first heat. Up For Speed was ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, while Bednar piloted Just Be Real.

"Both Up For Speed and Just Be Real ran big races," Willoughby said. "Vinnie and I went back and forth on who he wanted to ride. The gray horse, Just Be Real, worked in :17.9 and looked fantastic, while this horse, Up For Speed, is always tough. Jesus Rios Ayala did a great job riding this horse. They look good. Both horses set up for this race perfectly. They came in just right. I was a little worried just having the works under the gray horse's belt, but it worked out okay. He is a pretty nice horse."

Up For Speed was picking up his third win in 11 starts, while Just Be Real has now finished in the top two in six of nine outings. Allred and Willoughby completed their quartet of qualifiers with Bono Is Good, who finished sixth in the second trial, while posting the eighth fastest time.

"All four of these horses are fantastic looking," Willoughby said. "They were great as 2-year-olds and it looks like we're going to have a 3-year-old season with them. I had a little trouble getting them in races earlier but now we're into all the big races."

Allred had a fifth horse make the Governor's Cup Derby final, as Close To It finished fourth to Nomadic while posting the fifth fastest time of the night. Rios Ayala piloted this homebred by Favorite Cartel for trainer James Glenn, Jr. Allred also bred Kolleen Ledgerwood's Come Forth, who qualified out of the opening derby trial.

Link Newcomb's Cattail Cove flew late to catch Rosenthal Ranch's Runfoyourlife at the wire to grab a share of second place in their trial heat. The two will now meet in a stakes final for the third time in their careers having previously squared off in the Two Million and Governor's Cup Futurity. In the Two Million, Cattail Cove finished second while Runforyourlife ran seventh. Juan Aleman trains Cattail Cove, while Chris O'Dell conditions Runforyourlife, who also won the Grade 1 Golden State Futurity last year.

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

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.