Fastest qualifier Train B Taka will head the Grade 2 $235,600 El Primero Del Año Derby at Los Alamitos on Sunday night.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MARCH 21, 2025–The running of the Grade 2 $235,600 El Primero Del Año Derby, the debut of the Quarter Horse juvenile class of 2025, and the return of the dominant local distance horse To Speight Her headline an action-packed Sunday night of racing action at Los Alamitos.

First post for the nine-race program is 5:40 p.m.

Ten top sophomores will be in action in the El Primero, headed by fastest qualifier Train B Taka, who was easily the fastest qualifier on the night of trials held on March 2.

Racing for  Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola, and Tungsten Racing Partnership, Train B Taka won his 400-yard trial by 3/4 lengths while posting an excellent time of 19.63. His time was 14/100th faster than second fastest qualifier Fire Tools 123, who had a very good clocking of :19.77 for CD Horses, Inc., Jose Flores and Robyn Gordon.

The El Primero goes through Train B Taka, as the son of Freighttrain B has loved life at Los Alamitos. In his five local starts, the Marc Jungers-trained runner has won four races including the Holiday Handicap on December 28.

He was terrific in winning his trial to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and was strong when returning to run second in the Winter Derby final. He’s now the 8-5 favorite in the El Primero when he starts from post number one with Edwin Escobedo up. Bred by Rancho El Cabresto,

Train B Taka won his Los Alamitos debut from the rail and his victory in the trials for this race came from an inside post when leaving the gate from the number three assignment.

“He really enjoys Los Alamitos,” Junger said. “He’s California-bred and he’s fitted well here. He’s done extremely well here in California.  (Train B Taka) broke a little tardy (in the Winter Derby).  If he had run (his El Primero trial race0 in the Winter final, we may have won it. Who knows? We’re here and we’re excited and glad to have another shot.”

Fire Tools 123, who ran a solid sixth in the Winter Derby final, ran big in the opening to advance to his second graded derby in just a month’s time. Bred by George and Sandra Villalobos and trained by Flores, the son of Flying Cowboy 123 has now finished in the money in four of nine starts and he continues to improve with each outing. Cruz Mendez will pilot him from post number nine.

Clanfield Act Stables’ Favorite Semental and Ed Allred’s Defending Champ both enter the final after scoring impressive trial wins.  Favorite Semental took the lead early in his trial and went on to win by a 1/2 length, while Defending Champ broke behind the leaders, trailed for a good portion of the race, but then came flying late to win impressively by a neck. Both were sired by Favorite Cartel and both should be in the mix for a top spot in this race.

Keith Nellesen’s Jess Send Kevin is the second choice at 4-1 following his solid ½ length trial win in his first start without a flipping halter. The son of Kvn Corona has won four of his nine career starts.

The field from the rail out is as follows: Train Be Taka, Jess Send Kevin, Do The Job, Midnight Mood, Favorite Semental, Ultimate Battle, Speed Favorite, Defending Champ, Fire Tools 123, and Show N Tell Cartel.

Promising juveniles will compete in races seven and eight, the first two events for 2-year-olds this season each to be held at 220 yards.

Fillies will compete in race seven with the Sergio Morfin-trained Shinning Favorite coming in off of the best gate drill, while colts and geldings will take center stage in race eight with the Foose colt Val Future and the Uncle D colt Touch Base among the ones to watch.

Gates works for every juvenile starter can been at LosAlamitos.com. CLICK HERE to view them online.

In race two, all eyes will be on the Kentucky-bred 6-year-old gelded Thoroughbred To Speight Her, as the Morfin-owned and bred runner will be going after his fifth straight win at Los Alamitos. He’s been dominant this year, winning each of his three starts in 2025 by three lengths or more. Efrain Hernandez will ride To Speight Her from post number six.

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

Would you like more industry news delivered directly to your inbox? Click here to sign up.