Xpensive is the 6/5 morning line favorite in the Los Alamitos Adequan Derby Challenge on Sunday.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA– MAY 19, 2024–The California regional races for the AQHA Challenge Championships get underway on Sunday night with the running of the $33,660 Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge. The winner of this race will advance to the Adequan Derby Challenge final to be held at The Downs at Albuquerque in October.

Five sophomores will be in action in the Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge with the royally bred Favorite Cartel gelding Xpensive the 6/5 morning line favorite.

Owned by Steve D. Burns, Juan H. Moya, Ricardo J. B. Rodriguez, and et al, Xpensive is back in action after running in the El Primero Del Ano Derby final. Purchased for $132,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Xpensive arrives with a record of three wins from eight starts with an appearance in the Holiday Handicap also featured in his resume.

Jose Flores will train the full brother to multiple Grade 1 stakes finalist Eye On The Sky. Xpensive also enters the Adequan after posting a bullet drill at 220 yards when covering the distance in :12.40.

All five starters arrive after working from the gate in preparation for this race. Dunn Ranch’s Foosea posted the most impressive morning work on the four, as he posted the top workout time :11.9 on April 27.  Mov On Over, MV Royal Pappasito and La Famosa Vaquera completed the field.