Preview Racing


Major Stakes Winners Headline Running Of El Primero On Sunday
Tell Cartel, winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby as a 17-1, will look for another win in the Grade 3, $213,300 El Primero Del Año Derby at 400 yards on Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez
Major Stakes Winners Headline Running Of El Primero On Sunday

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MARCH 26, 2020, 2020—Grade 1 stakes winners Flokie and Tell Cartel will be joined by Grade 2 stakes winner Sass Go Blue, talented stakes placed runner You Can Run and six other sophomores in the Grade 3, $213,300 El Primero Del Año Derby at 400 yards on Sunday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Owned by Guadalupe Bujunda and J. Francisco Diaz, Flokie gets top billing in the El Primero following an impressive 2020 debut when winning his derby trial by a length on March 8.

The son of Favorite Cartel dazzled on trial night, as he flew out of the gate and was never challenged on the way to posting the fastest qualifying time of :19.726 while posting a strong final 220-yard time of :09.53. Jesus Rios Ayala will ride the gelding for trainer Lindolfo Diaz, who is the son of co-owner J. Francisco Diaz.

"(Flokie) ran lights out," Diaz said. "He broke like a rocket. He needed the race so this should get him a little bit tighter for the final."

Flokie won the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity last year over Los Alamitos Oaks favorite Dreams Divine. He also finished third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on December 15.

Martha Wells' Tell Cartel won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby as a 17-1 longshot, but now figures to be a major player in the El Primero final. He was very impressive in the trials, as faced early trouble but rallied from fifth place to win by 1 ¼ lengths. He had the most trouble out of any of the trials winners and yet he posted the biggest margin of victory. Ruben Lozano will ride for trainer Matt Fales.

"(Jockey) Ruben Lozano overcame some adversity (in the trials) and that was just huge," Fales said. "He ran so huge in the Winter Derby. Often horses will bounce but this horse recovers really smooth."

Dr. Steve Burns' You Can Run has delivered some impressive efforts this year, including his victory in the Winter Derby trials when he lugged in badly but still came away with the fastest qualifying time. He had another winning effort in the El Primero trials, this time going in and out a little bit while still recording a ¾ length win for trainer Mike Casselman.

Steve Burns and Antonio Flores' Sass Go Blue, the winner of the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last year, will enter after posting a solid ¾ length trial win. The Lucky Seven Ranch-bred gelding by Separate Interest will be a factor if he can repeat that effort. Old School Icon, Diamond Rock, Mister Tornado, Corona Required, Fire By Night and Fredericos Fantasy will complete the field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.