Los Alamitos Oaks winner Sweet Tess will contest Saturday’s $137,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby at Los ALamitos Race Course.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 28, 2022—Multiple stakes winner Favorite Honey would have been the big favorite in this Saturday’s $137,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby, but the gelding will not be part of the race as he’s been sidelined from the race with a minor injury.

The field will include Los Alamitos Oaks winner Sweet Tess, who was flying in the final 100 yards when running second to Favorite Honey in the trials. The effort was typical for the daughter of Apollitical Jess, as she’s become well known for her strong finishes. Trained by Pat Visscher for Edward and Theresa DeNike, Sweet Tess just hopes to be in contention early on, as that will give the opportunity to once again be the late threat.

Her top rivals will include Jesus Avila’s Benevolent and Valeriano Racing Stables’ Sweet Dasha Fire, both of which scored trial wins on the way to qualifying to the Breeders Derby final. Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Adan Farias, Benevolent showed a ton of quickness in winning his derby trial.

Fast out of the gate, the gelding by Fly Thru The Fire went on to win his trial by a 1/2 length. Benevolent is no one hit wonder, as he also won his 400-yard trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year. He was third to Da Special One in an allowance and finished fourth in the Jens List Memorial Stakes.                                                               

Sweet Dasha Fire posted a half-length victory in her derby trial and like Benevolent, he was a winner in her Two Million trial last November. The Walk Thru Fire filly ran fourth in the Governor’s Cup Derby and was fourth to Sweet Tess in the Oaks. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores.

The field will also feature Howard Nichols’ Jess Being A Friend, the runner-up in last year’s Two Million final. S&S Horse’s Corona Yo, third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby, Look Up, Favorite Habit, Insider Information, and Over Again will complete the field.

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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 losalamitos.com.