Female Flyer Sets Top Mark in Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity Trials

       Ed Allred’s homebred filly Female Flyer broke cleanly and finished powerfully in the final 150 yards to set the fastest qualifying time for the $54,000 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity on Saturday night.

       Saddled by James Glenn, Jr. and ridden by Cesar Ortega, the daughter of Favorite Cartel stopped the clock in :18.137 at 350 yards while pulling away from stablemate Shes Difficult. It marked Female Flyer's first career victory in three starts. She previously finished second in her April 12 debut behind Unblemished V, who has since gone on to win trial races for both the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity and Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity. Female Flyer is out of the graded stakes-placed mare Girls Can Fly ($39,837), winner of the 2015 Irvine Handicap and runner-up in that year's Grade 2 Miss Princess Handicap.

       The biggest surprise of the trials came in the second division, where the Jaime Gomez-trained Emperador D scored at nearly 9-1 odds. Guided by Martin Arriaga, the Docs Best Card gelding broke sharply, grabbed the lead from Luna Sofia, and cruised to a half-length victory in :18.148—the night's second-fastest mark. Trainer Gomez has a rich history in this event, having claimed Hay Shaker out of the Claiming Futurity final before that runner advanced to the Grade 1 Golden State Million, Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million, and Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby finals.

       Allred’s Favorite Shine posted the most dominant performance, leading wire-to-wire under Oscar Peinado to take the opening trial by a half-length in :18.200.  Also trained by Glenn, Jr., The Mpshinning gelding is out of the lightly raced mare Rite. Allred and Glenn teamed with one other qualifier in Irately, who was fourth to Emperador D in he second trial.

        The 10 qualifiers will return on Sunday, August 16 to compete in the final, where all starters will be eligible to be claimed for $16,000.

$54,000 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity Final Qualifiers