LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 16, 2017—For the second time in his Los Alamitos training career, Roberto Dominguez saddled the fastest qualifier to a major stakes race at the Orange County oval.

The first time he accomplished this feat came in August of 2011 when he saddled Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Filthy Fast to the fastest time in the Golden State Derby. Six years later, Dominguez once again had the trial night’s top star after Ledgerwood’s Renewed powered his way to the fastest time to the $184,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio from post number seven, Renewed flew out of the gate en route to posting his fourth win in 11 career starts. Bred by Ed Allred, the son of Walk Thru Fire covered the 400 yards in a time of :19.780.

“We felt we had the horse razor sharp,” Dominguez said. “He had some trouble in the Golden State Derby final in his last start. It was an oversight on my part, but this time I didn’t take anything for granted. I think we brought him into this race as sharp as possible and hopefully he comes back and has a similar race in the final.”

Back in 2011, Filthy Fast returned after his fastest qualifying time to finish fourth to Dutch Masters III’s Docs Apollo in the Golden State Derby. Renewed will hope to improve on Filthy Fast’s record, while also hoping to post his best effort in a stakes final after running fifth in last year’s Golden State Million Futurity and ninth in the Golden State Derby last month.

“It would be nice to finally win a major race,” Dominguez said. “It’s nice to have the fastest time, but it’s great to do it for Kolleen. She’s helped me out for a long time and hopefully we can keep winning nice races for her.” Dominguez saddled Ledgerwood’s Scholarly to victory in this year’s California Breeders Debutante Stakes on California Breeders Champions Night. Last year he swept the California Breeders Freshman Stakes races – a pair of $25,000 stakes – for Ledgerwood, winning the filly division with Scholarly and the boys event with Favorite Aquaholic.

George Seward decided two years ago to improve the quality of his racing stock. The result was there for all to see after his talented filly Ms Jess Knockout posted the second fastest qualifying time to the PCQHRA Breeders Derby. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, Ms Jess Knockout won the second of five trials in wire-to-wire fashion, leaving swiftly from post number four and battling with each stride to edge Jens List Stakes winner LD Is Back by a nose in the 400-yard dash. The daughter of Apollitical Jess, who last year ran in the $1,950,050 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, covered the distance in :19.837.

Based in Yuma, Colorado, the owner operates Seward Cattle and Red Cactus Horses. His father, Bob was involved in the American Quarter Horse Association and also Colorado Cattlemen’s and Yuma County Cattlemen’s associations. Seward has been around Quarter Horses and the ranch life his entire life.

He has also been a part of some nice races in the past. He had a runner that ran fifth in the Mile High Futurity a few years ago, but it’s Ms Jess Knockout who keeps reaching sky high levels for the owner. Her involvement in the Los Alamitos Two Million last year provided Seward with the opportunity to be a part of his richest race as an owner. And now, Seward will be a part of the PCQHRA Breeders Derby thanks, once again, to Ms Jess Knockout, who coincidentally missed out in racing in last year’s PCQHRA Breeders Futurity after finishing with the 11th fastest qualifying time.

And by the way, Ms Jess Knockout’s connections did not have to sweat it out this time around. She finished at the top of the board with the second fastest clocking of the night.

Darling Farms and Jaime Gomez’s LD Is Back came in with the third fastest clocking following a runner-up effort in this trial with a time of :19.849. Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, LD Is Back had previously dominated sophomores in the Jens List on California Breeders Champions Night.

This trial proved to be the most productive of the night, as the fourth fastest qualifier also came out of this heat in Leah and David Nelson’s Kiddy Up Cowgirl. Ridden by Eulices Gomez for trainer James Glenn, Jr., Kiddy Up Cowgirl crossed the wire in :19.902.

The daughter of Kiddy Up is an experience stakes performer, having previously competed in five stakes races in her career. Kiddy Up Cowgirl as this will be her sixth appearance in a stakes race. Kiddy Up Cowgirl previously ran third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and fourth in the Governor’s Cup Derby. She was fourth in last year’s PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and also ran in the Governor’s Cup Futurity.

Ron Hartley’s One Proud Eagle, the winner of the Kindergarten Futurity and John Deere California Juvenile Challenge Championship last year, was another top sophomore to shine on the night. He won his trial for trainer John Cooper and finished the night’s sixth fastest time.

For the complete list of qualifiers including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.