LOS ALAMITOS, CA—FEBRUARY 6, 2020—The night of the Los Alamitos Winter Derby trials back on January 18 featured several tremendous performances led by a 3/4 length victory from fastest qualifier You Can Run.

Now 10 of the best sophomores in the nation will get together on Saturday night to fight it out for the top prize in the Grade 1, $190,550 Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Leading the way will be Steve Burns’ You Can Run, a gelding by Favorite Cartel who continues to get better with each start. Trained by Mike Casselman, You Can Run won back-to-back starts last autumn and then finished a strong second to Chickititas Favorite in the $30,000 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational last closing night. He returned with an easy victory in his Winter Derby trial, one that could have been even more impressive had he not lugged in throughout the 400 yards.

Nevertheless, You Can Run finished with the fastest time of :19.76 and left many believing that he will be a major force in the final if he can maintain a straight course. Jesus Rios Ayala, the meet’s leading Quarter Horse jockey each of the past three years, will pilot the homebred gelding from post number eight.

Jeryl or Ron Hartley’s 2019 AQHA champion 2-year-old filly Cartel Jess Rockin scored a 3/4 length win in her trial victory, an impressive return effort following her scintillating victory in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on December 15. The Favorite Cartel filly showed that her Two Million win was no fluke, as she led from start to finish on the way to posting the second fastest time of :19.82. John Cooper will saddle the filly, who’ll be ridden by Juan Pablo Leon from post number six.

Ed Allred, the sport’s all-time leading owner and breeder, has yet to win the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in his Hall of Fame career, but that could change on Saturday night. Allred will be represented by three outstanding homebreds in trial winner Just Be Real and full -brothers Nomadic and Circle City.

Scott Willoughby will saddle this outstanding trio of runners with Vinnie Bednar opting to ride trial winner Circle City, who posted the third fastest qualifying time of :19.85. Oscar Andrade, Jr. will ride Nomadic, who had the fastest time in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year. Sired by Favorite Cartel, Circle City and Nomadic are both out of the stakes winning mare Moonlight Corona. Eulices Gomez will ride Autumn Handicap winner Just Be Real on Saturday night.

Steve Burns and Jose Flores’ Sass Go Blue, the winner of Grade 1 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity at 28-1 odds, Martha Wells’ Tell Cartel, second to Sass Go Blue in the Breeders Futurity, Bobby Simmons’ Mental Error, second in the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity last year, will also be featured in this race along with The Plan Handicap winner Zoom On Jess and Pot O’ Gold winner John Carter Cash.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.