LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JANUARY 21, 2021—Eighteen major futurity finalists, including 10 that competed in an open Grade 1 stakes event last year, are among the top sophomores that will race in the trials to the $203,950 Los Alamitos Winter Derby here on Saturday night.

Five trials will be held at 400 yards with the horses with the 10 fastest times advancing to the Grade 1 Winter Derby final on Saturday, February 13.

Dutch Masters III’s Flash Bak, who finished second in the Los Alamitos Two Million (GI) last year, and Ed Allred’s Monopolist, the winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, are among the headline names in the trials. Other big names include Terrific Temper, Doc Lamb, and Famous Cartel Jess, a trio of runners that also raced in the Two Million last year.

The opening trial is a wide-open contest led by Ray Willis’ Eastern Shore and XG Bar Racing LCC’s Proud Movin Renegade. Trained by Chris O’Dell, Eastern Shore has been solid in all three of his local outings.

He won his maiden race in his local debut before running second in a trial to the Golden State Million Futurity and then third in his Two Million trial. The son of Apollitical Jess will start from post number one in this race.

Trained by Jose Flores, Proud Movin Renegade finished second in the Wild West Futurity in his last start after arriving here fresh off a victory in the Bitterroot Futurity at Pocatello Downs. He’s been second in both of his local starts.

Rancho El Cabresto, Inc’s Favorite Five, who ran in the Restricted Grade 1 Governor’s Cup Futurity, and TQHA Sale Futurity finalist JLC Steal Your Cash are among the other top contenders in this trial.

The second heat is the toughest of the night, as the field will feature Monopolist, Doc Lamb, and Famous Cartel Jess, three runners that previously faced each other in the Two Million final on December 13. Monopolist had the highest placing of the three in the Two Million, as he ran fourth in the rich futurity. To be ridden by Oscar Andrade, Jr. for trainer James Glenn, Jr., Monopolist ran a tremendous race in the Two Million trials, as he posted the second fastest qualifying time to California’s richest race. He also won the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity by a half-length on October 3.

Howard Nichols’ Doc Lamb made only three starts during his freshman campaign, but all three of his races were high-caliber efforts. The son of Tres Seis finished fifth in the Two Million after running second to the sizzling fast Terrific Temper in the trials. He was a come-from-behind head winner in his career debut on October 16. Jaime Gomez trains Doc Lamb.

Johnny Trotter’s Famous Cartel Jess qualified to both the Golden State Million Futurity and Two Million Futurity after some strong efforts at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico. The colt by Mr Jess Perry will be looking for his first win at Los Alamitos in five starts.

This trial will also feature Rick Summer’s Candy Blood, who dominated the running of the Holiday Handicap on December 26 when winning the 350-yard dash by three lengths. The son of Apollitical Blood finished fourth in the Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity last spring at Remington Park.

Terrific Temper, who ran second in the (GI) Ed Burke Million Futurity, is the big name in trial number three even after coming off an outing in the Two Million that was not her best. The Tempting Dash filly never threaten on that night, but she has proven in the past that few can match her pure speed when she is at the top of her game.

The O’Dell-trained filly is ultra-quick out of the gate and her resume includes a 2-½ length win when posting the fastest time to the (GII) PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. Anything close to her effort on that night will surely put her among the fastest qualifiers to the Winter Derby on Saturday night.

She will be facing two-time futurity finalist Thats R Best Card, who was fourth in the PCQHRA Breeders final and fifth in the Ed Burke final, and also John Deere California Juvenile Challenge winner Tres A Jess. The latter is back at Los Alamitos after running fourth in the Grade 2 John Deere Juvenile Challenge Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque. The fourth trial be headed by the Jaime Gomez-trained Flash Bak, who was lights out when finishing second to Apollitical Patty in the Two Million. The son of Moonin The Eagle also qualified to the All American Futurity final at Ruidoso Downs and was a winner of his trial to both the Ed Burke Million and Two Million. Oscar Peinado will ride the James Streelman and Bill Dale-bred sprinter.

Legacy Ranch’s Twostrikesurprise, a winner in three of his five career starts, plus La Reina Del Sur 1, who won the California Breeders Freshman Stakes, are among the other top contenders in this race.

The final trial will include Allred’s Gentleman Chuck, who flew late after a troubled start when running second in his last start, and recent Last Chance Dash Handicap winner Leah Carroll. Chris Sutton’s CM Dillingham Advice, the winner of the Wild West Futurity, and Ed Burke Million finalist Jess Paint Me will also compete in this heat.

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For more info, please contact larace@losalamitos.com. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.