GRADE 1 WINNING FILLIES HEADLINE BIG NIGHT OF LOS AL TWO MILLION TRIALS
Led by the stablemates and Grade 1 futurity winning fillies American Dreamin and Up To Party, a total of 102 juveniles representing 74 different ownerships and 21 different trainers will come together for a tremendous night of trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity here on Sunday night. The 12 trials that will be contested on Sunday night represent the most trials for a futurity here this year. First post is 5:00 p.m.
The all-Quarter Horse racing card will feature three Pick Four wagering opportunities. The early Pick Four will consist of races one through four, the middle Pick Four will begin in race five and continue through race eight, while the late Pick Four will kick off in race nine through race 12. The juveniles with the 10 fastest qualifying times will advance to the $1,832,950 final on Sunday, December 15.
Dunn Ranch will certainly have girl power on its side as the Oklahoma-based racing operation campaigns both American Dreamin (left) and Up To Party. The two have been among the standout juveniles here this season with American Dreamin winning the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity at 400 yards on October 27 and Up To Party winning both the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity in June and the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity in September. The two Monty Arrossa-trainees are also among the nation’s highest earning female Quarter Horses in 2024 with the Ed Allred-bred Up To Party at the top of the rankings for fillies and mares with $534,400 in earnings, while the Dunn Ranch-bred American Dreamin ranks third among all female Quarter Horses with $449,641.
Up To Party, a daughter of Kiddy Up out of Grade 1 Golden State Million winner This Partys On Fire, is also one of only two Quarter Horses among the nation’s top 25 earners who is undefeated in 2024. A winner in all five of her starts – all at Los Alamitos – Up To Party will be racing for the first time at 400 yards. Both of her futurity wins – the Ed Burke and PCQHRA Breeders – came at the 350-yard distance. To be ridden by Armando Cervantes, Up To Party will be in action in the 10th trial. She’ll start from post number seven. Jess Good Wine, who has won all four of his starts during his 4-year-old campaign, is the only other undefeated horse in 2024 who is currently in the top 25 in earnings this year.
American Dreamin, a daughter of Apollitical Jess and out of stakes placed Sweet 16, has won three of her five starts but she’s undefeated in three outings at Los Alamitos. Two of those victories came at 400 yards, one when she posted the fastest qualifying time to the Golden State Million and the other when she got stronger with every stride to win the $1,073,800 final by a half-length. Cervantes will also pilot American Dreamin in the second trial and will start from post number three.
Of course, there are plenty of outstanding male juveniles that will be in action in the trials. EG High Desert Farms’ Favorite Jesshawk won the Governor’s Cup Futurity on California Breeders Champions Night and ran a strong fourth in the Golden State Million final after overcoming a troubled journey. A colt by freshman sire A Mere Felix, Favorite Jesshawk was among the quickest away from the gate in the Golden State Million before bumping and drifting shortly after the getaway. Ricardo Ramirez will be aboard the Jesus Nunez trainee in trial number eight.
Caliche Walls Venture, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland and Jimmy Barton’s Lethal Cowboy 123 (left) is another top male in action. Bred by Veronica Gail Kawananakoa, the gelding by Flying Cowboy 123 led the Golden State Million at the midway point of the race and just missed winning the million-dollar race due to American Dreamin’s powerful finish. Marc Jungers’ trainee Lethal Cowboy 123 is a legit top contender in these trials based on his great efforts at the 400- and 440-yard distances. In addition to his runner-up effort in the Golden State final, Lethal Cowboy 123 won his Golden State trial, finished second in his All American Futurity trial at 440 yards and also won his trial to the Rainbow Futurity at 400 yards. Simply put, this gelding has shown to relish distance. He’ll now test his skills as he’ll race against Up To Party in the 10th trial. Christian Ramos will pilot the Grade 1 stakes placed juvenile from the outside post nine.
In addition to American Dreamin, Lethal Cowboy 123, and Favorite Jesshawk there are four other Golden State Million finalists racing in Sunday’s trials. They are Apolitical Chilitas, Big Bang Rocket, Blood Viper, and Cartel Perry.
Johnny Trotter’s Cartel Perry, who was a strong third in the Golden State Million, will look to post another strong effort when he starts in the opening trial of the night. Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Chris O’Dell, Cartel Perry has been excellent in his Orange County race, winning his Golden State trial before shaking off a troubled start in the final to come rushing strongly in the second half of the race to finish third. Cartel Perry will race from post five and he’ll face Blood Viper in this trial. The son of Apollitical Blood will start from post number one. Apollitical Chilitas, the other Golden State finalist, will be in action in trial number five and from post number three.
Other horses to watch in the trials include Ed Burke Million finalists Norco, My Budd, Big Hurt, Jess Send Kevin, Robs Reason and Devils Tower plus Ah Sigh Handicap winner Walkin Tools. Ohana Spirit, who ran in the Rainbow Futurity, two-time futurity finalist Malynche, and Governor’s Cup finalists Party Time Tom, Mas Prieta, Midnight Mood, and Low And Fast will also compete in the trials.
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