LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JULY 28, 2018—The connections of AQHA champion J Fire Up, multiple stakes winner A Political Lady, stakes winner Jesstacartel, and Grade 1 stakes placed runners Matilda Czech and Yanque each made the late payment of $30,000 prior to the July 1 deadline to make their respective horses eligible to compete in the trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby to be held here on Saturday, October 20.

Owned by Darling Farms, Jaime Gomez, and Ernesto Solis, J Fire Up is a multiple Grade 1 winner and the champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old filly in 2017. The Kiddy Up filly won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity, and Governor's Cup Futurity last year on the way to earning $1,430,411.

She began her sophomore campaign by winning her trial to the Governor's Cup Derby on the way to qualifying to the $203,000 final.

"She deserves a chance to compete in the biggest races in the sport," said Gomez, who bred and trains the filly. "The Super Derby is certainly one of the most important events in Quarter Horse racing."

Racing for Parsons Ranch, A Political Lady is a perfect five for five in 2018 and her victories include the Grade 3 La Primera Del Ano Derby, La Pacifica Handicap, and the Vandy's Flash Handicap. A Political Lady also won her final start of 2017, which brings her win streak to six in a row.

"She's shown us that she's one of the best fillies out here right now," O'Dell said. "(Jockey) Eduardo Nicasio loved the way she ran in the Vandy's Flash and really encouraged us to give her a chance to run in the Super Derby trials.

Owned and bred by EG High Desert Farms, the stakes winning Matilda Czech is a three-time Grade 1 finalist. The Fast Prize Cartel filly finished second to J Fire Up in the Golden State Million Futurity and was fourth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Los Alamitos Winter Derby. She won the California Breeders Freshman Stakes for Fillies in 2017.

Martha Wells' Yanque has raced in six stakes races in California, winning The Plan Handicap last year. Known for his tremendous late running style, he also finished second in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby and qualified to the Governor's Cup Futurity, Wild West Futurity, and El Primero Del Ano Derby.

Completing the list of five is Lesley Joyner's Jesstacartel, who look tremendous in several of his winning efforts as a 2-year-old last year. A winner in four of his six career starts, the son of One Sweet Jess won the Autumn Handicap and Corona Chick Handicap last year – the latter race by an eye-catching 2 ¼ lengths – and most recently ran second to A Political Lady in the Vandy's Flash.

With the addition of the five new eligible horses, there are now 57 horses eligible to race in the Super Derby trials at 400 yards. Others eligible for the trials include champion KVN Corona and Grade 1 finalists Call Me Cole, Black Fryday, Apollitical Stone, Chance To Fire, Ditto Head, Moonie Blues, Peighnt Your Fate, Remember The Rose, Remember To Dash, Ray Donovan, SC Vapor Trail, and The Revenant.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.