Preview Racing


Nineteen Sophomores Set To Race In PCQHRA Breeders' Derby Trials On Saturday
Martha Wells' Tell Cartel, winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Grade 3 El Primero Del Ano Derby.

© Scott Martinez
Nineteen Sophomores Set To Race In PCQHRA Breeders' Derby Trials On Saturday

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 10, 2020—Derby star Tell Cartel and 2019 graded futurity winners Runforyourlife and Chayito Cartel are among the 19 sophomores that will see action in a pair of trials to the $140,000 Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders' Derby on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

The 400-yard Breeders Derby was previously a Grade 3 event, but the AQHA stakes committee promoted it to Grade 2 status thanks to the race’s strength in recent years led by its outstanding recent winners like Mister Appolitical, Moonie Blues, Kiddy Up Cowgirl, Little Talks, Bac In Front and AQHA champion Moonist.

The cast of hopefuls in this year’s trials is full of quality once again, as it will be headed by Martha Wells' Tell Cartel, the winner of the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and Grade 3 El Primero Del Añn Derby. The son of Favorite Cartel enters the trials following a fourth-place finish in the Grade 2 Golden State Derby on August 16.

A winner in six of 15 career starts, Tell Cartel will look to get back on the winning track tonight with Ruben Lozano up for trainer Matt Fales in the second heat.

J. Francisco Diaz’s Chayito Cartel will be making his first start of the year and first since running second a year ago in his trial to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity on September 15. Trained by Lindofo Diaz, Chayito Cartel won the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity during his freshman campaign.

Jesus Rios Ayala, fresh off his All American weekend stint at Ruidoso Downs, will be aboard the gelding by Favorite Cartel in the first of two trials.

Rosenthal Ranch’s Runforyourlife comes in well rested after running fourth in the Governor’s Cup Derby following a strong freshman campaign in which he won the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity, finished second in the Governor’s Cup Futurity and ran seventh in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

A full brother to recent Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap winner Powerful Favorite, Runforyourlife has finished fourth or better in each of his three outings this year. He will face Tell Cartel in the second heat.

Other top runners in the Breeders Derby trials include five Governor’s Cup Derby finalists in runner-up Up For Speed, third place finisher Just Be Real plus Javelina Cantina, Bono Is Good and Fire By Night plus Golden State Derby third place finisher You Can Run, who ran second earlier this year in the Winter Derby.

The horses with the 10 fastest times in the trials will advance to the Breeders Derby final to be held on Friday, October 2 on the eve Los Alamitos Equine Sale weekend. The 16th annual Equine Sale is scheduled for October 3 and 4.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.