LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 12, 2019—Four sophomores that raced in the Grade 2 Golden State Derby final reunite to compete in the first of three trials to the Grade 3, $150,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The field will include Conquering Marie, who took advantage of a beautiful start and troubled trips for several of the other top contenders, to score a surprising victory in the Golden State final.

The Oklahoma-bred filly by Coronado Cartel would go on to win the Golden State at 30-1 odds and will headline the first 400-yard trial. While that derby victory was unexpected, Conquering Marie has been a top performer throughout her career.

She finished third to Grade 1 All American Derby finalist Valiant Tiberias in the Adequan Ruidoso Derby Challenge and she competed in last year’s PCQHRA Breeders Futurity final. Mike Robbins will saddle Conquering Marie, who’ll be ridden by Ruben Castro.

Conquering Marie will be facing a field in the trials that is loaded with talent. Leading the way is the terrific sophomore Chocolatito, who was the 3-5 favorite in the Golden State final before having a nightmarish trip that included getting bumped hard at the start. Chocolatito was eighth during the early going of the Golden State final, but made a tremendous late run to improve to fifth place.

Unbeaten in his previous three starts of the year, Chocolatito will be ridden by Vinnie Bednar for trainer Scott Willoughby in the final. Conquering Marie will start from post four in the trials, while Chocolatito will leave the gates from post six.

Meanwhile, breaking from the outside post seven will be Delayed Steal, who was disqualified from sixth and placed ninth in the Golden State final after he veered in sharply to bother several foes including Chocolatito.  Delayed Steal will look to make amends, as he's posted some solid efforts in the past including a pair of seconds in allowance races earlier this year.

CD Horses Inc's Ali Babe Foose, the sixth place finisher in the Golden State final, will also compete in this trial. The opening heat will feature a pair of sophomores exiting the Governor's Cup Derby final on July 27. They are Tac Me Up and Stel A Gambler, the third and fifth place finishers in the 400-yard derby. Harem Bar Cartel, winner of the Firecracker Futurity at Grant's Pass last year, will also be in action in this trial.

Legacy Ranch's Mister Appolitical, who'll be making his first start since running fourth in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, Martha Wells' Red Hawk Cartel, the Winter Derby runner-up and most recently the second place finisher in the Jens List Memorial Stakes, and Purty Fancy Dude, who was eighth in the Golden State after getting bulk of the damage when Delayed Steal veered in will headline the second trial of the night.

The opening trial will feature Legacy Ranch's Wicked Affair and Marin Jones and Steve McIntyre's Cole Man 47. The two sophomores were major futurity winners at Los Alamitos last year with the filly Wicked Affair winning the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity and the gelding Cole Man 47 winning the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity.

Jens List winner Bolt For Gold and major derby finalists Golden Boy Gonza and You Caught My Eye are among the other top runners in the final heat.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.