Aint He Tempting, under jockey Armando Cervantes, setting the fastest time in the May 29 Ed Burke Million Futurity(G1) trials at Los Alamitos..

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JUNE 18, 2022—The middle part of the starting gate for the first million-dollar race of the meet will attract a lot of eyeballs, as fastest qualifier Aint He Tempting and the unbeaten runners Quirky Bitty Jess and DK Double A will start from posts 5,6,7 in the Grade 1, $1,000,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Owned by Dunn Ranch and bred by McColee Land and Livestock LLC, Aint He Tempting was tremendous in the trials, setting the tone for the night after winning the opening heat by two lengths.

Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Aint He Tempting covered the distance in a fast :17.64 while improving his record to a perfect two for two. A full brother to multiple stakes winner Aint She Tempting, who won the Grade 2 Golden State Derby here last year, The son of champion Tempting Dash will start from post number six, right in between DK Double A and Quirky Bitty Jess.

"He tried hard in the trials and ran a super trial race," Arrossa said. "He tried hard, and it looked like the rider had a tough time stopping him on the backside. The horse came back very well. He’s eating good and we’ve had him on the track three times. We’ve taken him to the gates twice. He’s stood good both times. The best thing about him is that he has a great mind. He’s rested well between the trials and now. He’s eating everything and I think that’s critical. You wouldn’t know that he’s a colt. He’s got a great disposition. He’s kind and anybody can lead the horse. He’s real stout. He’s a big horse."

Aint He Tempting returned after that impressive trial win a "little tired" according to Arrossa. The three weeks off between the trials and the final have provided plenty of time for the son of Tempting Dash to be at full strength once again.

 "We (gave) him as much time as they need after the trials," Arrossa added. "When they’re ready to get to the track, we like to take them back. When they get to feeling good or happy on the hotwalker, they’re telling us that it’s time to get back on the track. He certainly wants to go. He was quiet a few days after the trials. He was happy out there. His groom told me that he was ready to go. We let them guide us."

Owner J. Francisco Diaz has two runners in the Ed Burke Million, including second fastest qualifier Quirky Bitty Jess. The Apollitical Jess filly won her trial by 1-¼ lengths and was the only winner to qualify from the final four trials.

Diaz will also be represented by El Aventurero, a Docs Best Card gelding who is also undefeated and will start from post number one.

Both horses are trained by Diaz’s son, Lindolfo. Alberto Zepeda will ride for the first time in his career in a million-dollar race when he pilots Quirky Bitty Jess from post number seven. Jesus Rios Ayala, one of the nation’s leading riders, will be aboard El Aventurero.

Juan Humberto Moya and Armando Ulloa’s DK Double A brings a perfect record as well, as he’s won both of his starts. The Favorite Cartel colt will start from post number five and trainer Jose Flores will be hoping for his fast charge to travel in as straight a path as possible.                 

 "He'll load second to last, which is a good thing," Flores said. "He won’t be in the gate very long and we hope that helps him get out straighter. We’ve been working with him on that. The horse has a lot of talent. We’re hoping we can hook up with leaders and battle it out. Hopefully, we can get a good clean break. No bumping around and go from there."

Felix Gonzalez will saddle the talented pair of Clanfield Act Stables’ Frivolous, who won her trial by a half-length, and Jesus Nava’s homebred, Navaja. They’ll start from the outside posts nine and 10. Frivolous is a Favortie Cartel full sister to Grade 2 futurity winner Monopolist, while Navaja is by Walk Thru Fire out of the stakes finalist Jess Flashee, who Nava campaigned.

The Quarter Company LLC’s Apollitical Jet, an Apollitical Jess full brother to Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity finalist Rocket Seventeen, is the only stakes winner in the race. He won the West Texas Juvenile at Sunland Park.

The field will be completed by Steve Burns’ Escalated, a full sister to Grade 1 stakes winner Little Talks, and JAG Racing Stables’ Party Politics and Jimmy and Marilyn Harrel’s Henry D, a pair of Ruidoso Sale graduates, will complete the field.

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