Preview Racing


Four Trials To Southern California Derby On Tap Friday Night
Governor's' Cup Derby winner Black Fryday is among hopefuls competing in the Southern California Derby(G2) trials on Friday at Los Alamito.

© Scott Martinez
Four Trials To Southern California Derby On Tap Friday Night

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 25, 2018—Graded derby winners Jess My Kiss, A Political Lady and Black Fryday are among the sophomores that will be in action in the trials to the Grade 2, $162,850 Southern California Derby on Friday at Los Alamitos. The eight-race program will also feature a Pick Six carryover of $9,147 and starts in race number three.

Thirty-three runners will be in action in the trials with the horses with the 10 fastest times advancing to the 400-yard final to be held on Friday, December 13.

The opening trial does not have a derby winner in the field, but it does feature Abigail Kawananakoa's Chance To Fire and Legacy Ranch's Platki, two of the most talented sophomores yet to win a stakes races. Chance To Fire has had opportunities to win a stakes, as he's qualified to five graded stakes races during his career and has run second in two of them. Cody Jensen, who has been aboard the Walk Thru Fire gelding in all five of those stakes finals, returns to ride the talented California-bred for trainer Chris O'Dell.

To be ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala for trainer Terry Knight, Platki posted the fastest qualifying time to the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity last year before running fifth to champion KVN Corona in the final. Platki took the rest of his juvenile year off before returning to the track this August. He'll enter Friday's trial after scoring a powerful half-length allowance victory on October 28.

Ron Hartley's Black Fryday, winner of the Governor's Cup Derby on July 28, headlines the second trial. The son of Favorite Cartel is looking to qualify to his fifth derby final of the year. He was second to KVN Corona in the El Primero Del Ano Derby and also competed in the Grade 3 PCQHRA Breeders Derby and Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. He'll face a lineup that will include graded stakes finalist Scoopie Jess and Yashira Vista.

Mark and Peggy Brown's Jess My Kiss won the Grade 1 Los Alamito Winter Derby at the start of the year, but has struggled to repeat that great effort. He came close a couple of races ago when he finished third in a trial to the Los Alamitos Super Derby.

CM Boom Shakalaka, a two-time stakes winner this season, Town Policy Handicap winner My Favorite Cartel and Super Derby trial winner Eyes The Favorite are among the other top names in this very deep trial. Other top names in this heat include multiple graded stakes finalist The Revenant and solid runners Ray Donovan and La Rusa.

Parsons Ranch's A Political Lady has been one of the most consistent sophomore fillies this season. The daughter of Apollitical Jess has won five of nine starts in 2018 with her top wins coming in the Grade 3 La Primera Del Ano Derby, Vandys Flash Handicap and La Pacific Handicap. She'll be in action in the final trial of the evening

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.