LOS ALAMITOS, CA--MARCH 10, 2018--While getting ready to saddle Parsons Ranch's Terrific Temptation, trainer Chris O'Dell said that he was expecting a good race from the daughter of the two-time Grade 1 winner Terrific Energy on a rare rainy night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

"All of Terrific Energy's babies love the mud," he said. "They always run great on a muddy track."

Sent off at 17-1 odds, Terrific Temptation then went and proved O'Dell right, as she defeated a field that included a pair of Grade 1 futurity runner-ups while posting the fastest qualifying time to the Grade 3, $183,800 La Primera Del Ano Derby on Saturday.

She'll now lead a field of 10 sophomore fillies in the La Primera Del Ano final to be held at the Orange County track Friday, March 30.

Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, Terrific Temptation covered the 400 yards in a time of :19.782 over a wet fast track while beating John Firth's Hard Headed Chick by a length.

Lisa Anderson's Wild West Futurity winner Moonie Blues, who also finished second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year, was third, while Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity runner-up Matilda Czech had tough trip as she had to be checked and lost her racing path on the way to finishing in fifth place.

Terrific Temptation won the second of two La Primera Del Ano trials held on the night. The first trial also went to Parsons Ranch and O'Dell courtesy of the talented homebred filly A Political Lady, who also posted a length victory while posting the second fastest qualifying time of :19.808 over a wet track.

"Parsons Ranch always has some very nice horses," O'Dell said. "Terrific Temptation is just a fast horse. Her main issue is behaving in the gate. She broke through the gate in her trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (when scratched from the race on November 26). Yesterday we schooled her in the paddock and in the gate. She is really good when she breaks clean like tonight."

Sired by Tempting Dash, the homebred filly Terrific Temptation has won four of 10 career starts.

She's a half-sister to Designs By Dynasty, the winner of the aptly named Terrific Energy Handicap held last week. Terrific Temptation is also a half-sister to Las Damas Handicap winner Thermonuclear Energy, and Governor's Cup Derby winner Terrific Synergy.

The outstanding broodmare Terrific Energy won the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap and Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap in 2009.

Hard Headed Chick, a Hard Hitting filly bred by Jeryl Hartley and John Firth and trained by Lin Melton, finished with the third fastest qualifying time of :19.939. The La Primera Del Ano will be her second major stakes final after running fourth in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last year. She also posted fourth place finishes in the Waymaker Handicap and Corona Chick Handicap.

O'Dell, who currently sits alone at the top of the Los Alamitos Quarter Horse trainer standings with 13 wins, enjoyed another top performance by A Political Lady in the opening trial.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, the Apollitical Jess filly has now won her last three starts and four of 11 career outings, including the Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational at 400 yards on December 17. She also finished third in the Golden State Million Futurity last year.

"She proved herself a lot last year so we have a lot of good hopes for her in the coming year," O'Dell said. "She's the kind of horse that can run on any surface and over any distance. She got a little bit tired in this race, but she was very good."

J. Garvan Kelly and Nancy Yearsley's Splendid Cause finished second in this race at 9-1 odds while posting the fourth fastest qualifying time of :19.971.

She was saddled by Juan Aleman and ridden by Carlos Huerta.

For the complete list of qualifiers to the La Primera Del Ano Derby including times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.