PRICE FIXER IS A BIG DEAL IN THE EL PRIMERO TRIALS AT LOS ALAMITOS
David Hinkins’ Price Fixer posted a surprising victory over a field that included two-time Grade 1 futurity winner Party Politics on the way to posting the fastest qualifying time to the $195,200 El Primero Del Año Derby on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.
Sent off at 16-1 odds, Price Fixer (left) had the best race of his career, as he broke sharply from post number six and never looked back to record a 1 ¼ length win in a 400-yard time of :19.957. JGA Racing Stables’ Party Politics, the winner of the Ed Burke Million Futurity and Golden State Million Futurity, stumbled badly leaving the gate and was sixth at the start before coming back to finish second while earning the sixth fastest qualifying time. Bradbury Racing’s Dont Sass KVN, who raced in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby final on February 18, won the first of two El Primero trials while posting the second fastest qualifying time of :20.012.
“He ran a good race but of course (Party Politics) kind of stumbled and it gave us a chance to do something,” Hinkins said of his horse. “Price Fixer is a very calm horse. He’s very quiet for a stud colt.”
Hinkins (right), who campaigned the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity winner First Down Illusion in 2010 and then in his sophomore year in 2011, was the co-leading owner in the Mixed-bred division last year upon his return here after racing sparingly here from 2012 to 2021. He’ll now have an opportunity to enjoy another graded stakes win at Los Alamitos thanks to Price Fixer.
“It’s been a lot of fun,” said Hinkins about being back at Los Alamitos. “I really appreciate Dr. Allred for all the effort he puts in to keep this track going. He’s been instrumental in making sure we have a place to run in the wintertime. We enjoy being at Los Alamitos, the camaraderie and just like the association with the people down here.”
Hinkins purchased Price Fixer for $85,000 from the Allred consignment at the 2021 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. The colt by Favorite Cartel out of Chickafirst has won three of nine starts. Rodrigo Aceves piloted the California-bred for trainer Adan Farias.
Ridden by Victor Salazar for trainer Paul Jones, Dont Sass KVN (left) was the 4-5 favorite in his trial, as he recovered from some early trouble to win by a head. This was his fourth win in nine career starts. Sired by KVN Corona and out of the mare Sassy On Fire, the McColee Land and Livestock bred Dont Sass KVN was purchased for $57,000 at the Ruidoso Yearling Sale in 2021.
“I’ve really liked Dont Sass KVN ever since his 2-year-old year,” Jones said. “He really ran a nice race tonight. He had to push through to get there. I’m really happy with that.”
The complete list of qualifiers is as follows: Price Fixer (:19.957), Dont Sass KVN (:20.012), Turbeau (:20.032), Revenant Inside (:20.05), Mahomes Magic (:20.095), Party Politics (:20.138), Hes Chickless (:20.162), Fire Pit (:20.179), Chickititas Cartel (:20.232), and Chester Carlson (:20.448).
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