LOS ALAMITOS, CA— OCTOBER 1, 2014—Ron and Jeryl Hartley's Moonist could make Los Alamitos racing history when he headlines a strong field in the $166,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Friday night. Moonist will look to become the first horse ever to win four of the nine derbies currently being held at the Orange County oval.

The number four ranked Quarter Horse in the nation, Moonist has already won the El Primero Del Ano Derby, Governor's Cup Derby, and Golden State Derby this season. Only two other 3-year-olds, his sire, Separatist, being one of them year, have previously won three of the current derbies currently being held at Los Alamitos.

Moonist has worked hard to be in this position. The gelding has won eight of nine races this season, a workload in stakes races that can only be matched by another Orange County four-legged resident, the Kentucky Derby winner California Chrome.

"You run them when they're hot," said Moonist’s trainer, John Cooper. "He loves to run and he looks great right now. On the night of the Breeders Derby trials I told jockey Cesar De Alba not to take everything out of the horse. Cesar did a great job. He won the race and the horse seemed to have a lot left. Moonist has been acting great around the barn. You never know how a horse is going to do in a race, but I think Moonist will do his thing. I just want him to run straight."

"He thrives on running," added owner Ron Hartley. "He's run so many times and won so many races because he's a good horse. All the credit goes to trainer John Cooper."

Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm, Moonist will go into the 400-yard Breeders final after posting the fastest qualifying time in the trials of :19.557. For his career, Moonist has won 12 of 19 starts. His mother is the great champion Your First Moon, a winner of the Los Alamitos Million Futurity.

Vessels Stallion Farm will also be represented by its homebred Dynasty Of Habits in the Breeders Derby final. Trained by Cody Joiner, the FDD Dynasty filly posted the second fastest qualifying time after running second to Moonist in the trials.

Joiner will also saddle trial winner and 2013 Rainbow Futurity winner Ms First Prize Rose for AQHA champion owners Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches. The Corona Cartel filly will make her third start of the year. She was sixth in a trial to the All American Derby in the summer.

The field to the PCQHRA Breeders Derby will be completed by Rf One Famous Okey, Les Mishka Jess, Volcoms Delight, Look Of A Dasher, Smoothe Movin Chic, The Ocean King, and All Guns Firing.

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The nine derbies currently on the Los Alamitos stakes schedule are: Los Alamitos Winter Derby, La Primera Del Ano Derby, El Primero Del Ano Derby, Governor’s Cup Derby, Golden State Derby, Adequan California Derby, PCQHRA Breeders Derby, Los Alamitos Super Derby, and Southern California Derby.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.