Dunn Ranch LLC’s Aint He Tempting, breaking his maiden in his career debut April 30, will start in opening Ed Burke Million Futurity trial on Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 28, 2022—Trials to the first futurity with a million-dollar purse of the Los Alamitos season – the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity – takes center stage during Sunday’s racing action at the Orange County oval.

Ten trials are on tap with 79 runners set for action in the 350-yard heats. The horses with the 10 fastest times will advance to the $1,000,000 Ed Burke Million final to be held at Los Alamitos on Sunday, June 19.

Among the trial hopefuls, 20 have produced at least one trip to the winner’s circle. One of them is a stakes winner in The Quarter Company LLC’s Apollitical Jet, who won the $50,000 West Texas Juvenile, while two others are futurity finalists in Jesus Nava’s Navaja and Rojas Racing and Juan Moya’s Smokin Hot Fire, both qualifiers to the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity held here on May 15.

Every trial, except for one, will feature an eight-horse field. The remaining trial will feature a seven-horse field. First post for the 10-race program is 6 p.m.

The first two trials are among the strongest of the night as the opening heat features three winners, while the second trial features an evening’s best five winners from its eight-horse field. Dunn Ranch LLC’s Aint He Tempting is among the marquee names in the opening trial, as he’ll enter his second career start after winning his debut by a half-length.

The Tempting Dash colt is a full brother to multiple graded stakes winner Aint She Tempting, who won the Grade 2 Golden State Derby last year and was second in both the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity and Grade 1 Heritage Place Futurity in 2020.

Monty Arrossa will saddle Aint He Tempting from the outside post eight in this event. Bred by McColee Land and Livestock, Aint He Tempting will take on winners Valiant Livy and J La Sultana along with the newcomer Challynger, who finished third in his Heritage Place Futurity trial at Remington Park on May 6.

The second trial will be headed by Kindergarten finalist Navaja from the barn of trainer Felix Gonzalez. The Walk Thru Fire filly won her debut when facing two other eventual Kindergarten finalists in Mornings With Maria and Valiantli before running second in her trial while advancing to the final. Sixth in the Kindergarten, Navaja has drawn the outside post with jockey Jose Nicasio in the irons.

Among the four other winners in this race, P & J Racing Ltd’s AJ Born Runnin won her debut by a 1-1/4 lengths, while Travis and Wendy Saxton’s Fired Up For This 1 won his first start by a length. The other two winners in this heat are Ed Allred’s Thames, who is a half-brother to the talented London Toby, and M & G Farms’ Eyetinerari, who won her debut by ¾ lengths.

One of the most impressive first-time starters this season is David Hinkins’ Price Fixer, who scored a 1-1/2 length win in his debut back on April 16. The Favorite Cartel colt has since posted a 350-yard turn and work in preparation for his return to action. He was purchased for $85,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale from the stock of Hall of Fame breeder Ed Allred. The other winner in this trial is J. Francisco Diaz’s El Aventurero, who scored a hard-working head victory in his debut on April 30.

Lindolfo Diaz, the trainer of El Aventurero, will send out the sharp looking Moonlight Blaze in trial number four for owner/breeder Legacy Ranch. Sired by First Moonflash, Moonlight Blaze won her debut by 1-1/2 lengths and will be among the runners to watch in this trial.

Others figure to be Juan H. Moya and Armando Ulloa’s daylight winner DK Double A and the stakes winner Apollitical Jet. Paul Jones’ Twiggys Favorite brings the number of winners in this trial to four.

The fifth trial will be headed by JGA Racing Stables’ $100,000 yearling purchase Party Politics, who won his debut by 1 ½ lengths. Gildardo Garcia’s Mas Interest won his first out as well here at Los Alamitos.

These two will be joined by two the nation’s highest priced yearlings from 2021 in Bobby Simmons’ Reminder, who was purchased for $450,000 at the Ruidoso Sale, and Valeriano Racing’s Sicario V, who was purchased for $240,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

Jimmy and Marilyn Harrel’s Henry D, a $122,000 Ruidoso purchase, will head the sixth trial of the night, while winners Quirky Bitter Jess and Fervents Wagon lead the seventh trial.

The final three trials featured a combined two winners in Rancho El Cabresto’s Mad Boy in trial number eight and Stella Girl 47 in trial number 10. However, these three races have a total of 13 runners to have finished either second or third already in their young careers.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more info, please contact larace@losalamitos.com.  Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at losalamitos.com.