Golden Token and jockey Ruben Lozano post the fastest qualifying time for the $285,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity at Los Alamitos on July 5.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–JULY 5, 2026–Trainer Valentin Zamudio had big success with the AQHA champion Golden Boi. He is now hoping that Golden Boi’s talented son, Golden Token, follows on some of his sire’s exploits after the colt set the fastest time for the $285,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity during Sunday’s trials at Los Alamitos. The final will be held on Sunday, July 26, following a thrilling night of 350-yard trials here.

Leading the charge for the final will be Rancho Humilde’s undefeated colt Golden Token, who set the top time of :17.702. Bred by Erik Flores and ridden by Ruben Lozano, the talented colt looked ultra-impressive while pulling away to a dominant 1 3/4-length victory. In doing so, he puts his sire, Golden Boi, in a position to secure his first futurity win as a stallion at Los Alamitos. The connection is a sentimental one; Golden Boi made his own name on this track by winning the 2021 Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and the 2022 Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby under the conditioning of trainer Valentin Zamudio.

"He ran excellent," said Zamudio of Golden Token. “Since early on we saw that he had talent. Things have worked out and he looked terrific tonight. He improved a lot from his first start. In fact, he's always been a horse I've liked. The horse players didn't give him as much attention tonight. He paid well ($6.20) and he looked good. Not only is he my best Golden Boi, but he's the best one I have in the barn right now."

Trainer James Glenn Jr. also enjoyed a massive trial night, qualifying a powerful duo led by Niece Laura, who stopped the clock in the second-fastest time of :17.731. Sent off as a 14-1 longshot, the Favorite Cartel filly excelled in the final trial of the evening with a sharp three-quarter-length victory. Out of London Laura, she is a full sister to Grade 1 winner London Toby.

Glenn will also saddle Still Standing, who recorded the fourth-fastest qualifying time of :17.748 after battling to a gritty neck victory over Terrific Favorite. Bred by James Markum and Steve Burns, the Favorite Cartel filly is a half-sister to Zionsville, the fastest qualifier for the Grade 1 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity.

"We were very high on both of them," Glenn reflected, noting that both fillies rebounded beautifully after some early-career racing disappointments. "We bought Still Standing at (the Los Alamitos Equine Sale) and we were very high on her. She won her first out and then she ran in the Ed Burke trials, and she was a little disappointing. Tonight, she redeemed herself. It was kind of the same story with Niece Laura. We were also high on her. In her first couple of races, she didn't fire like we thought she would. Tonight, her pedigree and what she showed in the mornings she showed here as well. She's going to run down the racetrack. She is very quick and she's the full package. She had been disappointing, but she vindicated herself here."

The field for the July 26 final will be exceptionally deep, as the field will also feature Silver Racing Farm LLC's impressive winner Terrific Favorite, alongside Ed Burke qualifier Dulce Luchadora, and Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity qualifier Contentious. Here’s the list of qualifiers: Golden Token (:17.702), Niece Laura (:17.731), Quite Perfect (:17.740), Still Standing (:17.748), Terrific Favorite (:17.795), AP First To Rocket (:17.815), Dulce Luchadora (:17.823), Shes Jess Shinning (:17.852), Contentious (:17.855), and Lonely At Night (:17.863).

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