Accelerated heads the $1,040,000 Ed Burke Million on Sunday at Los Alamitos from a group of 112 two-year-olds.

© Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–MAY 23–Trials to the first major futurity of the season will be contested on Sunday night at Los Alamitos, and it’s a blockbuster of a night.

Twelve trials will be held for the Grade 1, $1,040,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity with the horses with the 10 fastest time advancing to the final on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15. And with 112 top juveniles set to compete in the 350-yard trials, a split second could be worth a spot in the million-dollar race.

Of the more than hundred runners in the trials, 24 have already paid a visit to the winner’s circle. An additional 44 runners have also finished second and third, which means that more than half of the contenders have posted a top three finish coming into the trials.

The night will also feature three Pick Four wagering opportunities with the sequences starting in races 1, 5, and nine. The Place Pick All will also consist of the first 10 races on the card.

The strongest trial appears to be the ninth race, as six of the nine runners have already received their maiden diploma. This race will be headed by Gamaliel Garza Garcia’s Accelerated, the all-time high seller at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale after Mr. Garza Garcia paid $850,000 for the Favorite Cartel colt out of the great Remember Me Rose.

Bred by Steve Burns, Accelerated won his debut at 300 yards by 1 ½ lengths, and like his comment line reads, he romped over a quality field with Martin Arriaga up for trainer Juan Aleman.

Steve Burns’ French Valley is another top juveniles in this event. The Favorite Cartel filly is out of Attack The Cartel, making her a full sister to champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Trane Station V. French Valley won her debut by a length at 220 yards. Cesar Franco will pilot her for trainer Mike Casselman.

The other four winners in this event are Jose Flores and Larry Stewart’s Jess A Lucky Charm, who finished strong to win by a ½ length on April 26. Ed Allred’s Cheat Sheet posted one of the most impressive maiden wins, as she pummeled her rivals by 1 1/2 lengths. Bobby and Catherine Simmons’ Error Code and David Hinkins’ Blow Ur Whistle are the two other winners in this trial.

The opening trial will feature Parsons Ranch’s The Lady Is A Vamp, who crossed the wire three lengths ahead of the rest while in a time of :15.44 at 300 yards. Her effort was so impressive that trainer Paul Jones described the filly by Apollitical Blood the most impressive juvenile he’s trained since champions Foose and Separate Fire, both  Ed Burke Million winners for the Hall of Fame trainer. Henry Reynoso Lopez will ride The Lady Is A Vamp from post number four.

The final race on the card is also loaded with winners – four of them total – headed by M & G Farms’ Shiny New, who scored a ¾ length win in her debut. The filly by Mpshinning will start from the outside post nine for trainer Valentin Zamudio with jockey Ruben Lozano up. These connections teamed up to win the 2021 Ed Burke in knockout fashion with Golden Boi.

The other three winners include Newcomb Racing’s Cattail Coast, whose win came at 220 yards, Lightning Gal, who has a lot of experience as this will be her fourth career start, and Dutch Masters III’s Terra Famous, second to Heavily Favored in his debut, and then a winner in his return.

The recently purchased Billionaire Behavior, winner for Dutch Masters III before changing ownerships to Jason Robles-Juarez and trainer Juan Aleman, will head the second race. Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Fancy Upp was second to Shiny New in their debut and now figures to be a top contender in this trial. Flying Female, who was in the same race as The Lady Is A Vamp, will start from the rail while looking for her second victory.

Allred’s Toby Sis, a full sister to London Toby, will start from the outside post 10 while looking for her second victory after an outstanding 1 ¼ length win on April 26. SR Racing Stables’ Political Ruffian is the other winner in this event.

Gary Laramie’s Muscle Max won his debut on April 12 in a race that has been the most productive maiden race of the year. He’ll headline the fourth race. Four other horses from that race have returned to score a win including Ed Burke trialists Cattail Coast, Jesskeepingitgoing and Jess Im Worth It. Next Norco, a full-brother of 2024 Ed Burke finalist Norco, will also race in this event.

Go North, a full brother to Next Norco, will head the fifth trial. This is one of the few trials featuring a field of maidens. Paulo Octavio Freire Macedo’s Cowboy Reason MV, a winner in his racing debut, will head the sixth trial. His dam is the G1 Mildred Vessels Memorial winner Reason To Fly Mv.

The seventh race is among the toughest of the night featuring Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity finalist Wake Up Lil Suze, a winner in her debut, and Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Whistle Stop, a razor-sharp winner in his debut. Gamaliel Garza Garcia’s Pretty Miss Patty, a filly by Favorite Cartel out of millionaire and Grade 1 winning champion Apollitical Patty, will also be in action in this trial.

Freire Macedo’s Apolitical Reason MV, also out of Reason To Fly MV, will be in action in the eight race in a wide-open test. The aforementioned Jess Im Worth It and Jesskeepingitgoing  will face off in the 10th race. Another winner, Flaming Jess Candy, will also race in this event.

The 11th trial is another loaded lineup led by Newcomb Racing’s Heavily Favored, a winner and full brother to Accelerated, will take on Cathy Allred’s Special Favor, Parsons Ranch’s Curleys Kiss, and newcomer Licon Farm and Ranch LLC’s Vyper, all runner-ups in maiden events. One other runner-up is Keith Nellesen’s Won Salty Corona, as the owner is looking for another futurity after enjoying Beuteeful’s win in the Kindergarten final.

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