July 29, 2010 – The American Quarter Horse Journal, July 29, 2010 – Governors Cup Futurity (RG2) fastest-qualifier Hot Hitter and the sharp Pink Boots RM, fastest qualifier to the Governor’s Cup Derby (RG2) highlight California Champions night at Los Alamitos on Saturday.
The evening’s program is dedicated to California-bred racing and includes A Streakinson in the $100,000 Spencer Childers California Championship (RG1), defending winner My Lady First in the $50,000 Matron Stakes (RG2) and Ed Burke Million (G1) winner First Down Illusion in the $25,000 Freshman Stakes.
Balgo Racing Team’s Hot Hitter (Walk Thru Fire-Chickasis by Chicks Beduino) faces a deep field in the $428,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity after turning in a sharp win in his trial for trainer Felipe Quintero. The chestnut gelding was second in his first two starts before stepping up and winning his trial by a neck in :17.417, the fastest qualifying time from seven trials.
Jesus Velasco’s second-fastest qualifier Silveree (Separatist-Quiero Todo by First Down Dash) won her maiden two starts ago and then backed up that effort with a half-length trial win. The Felix Gonzalez-trained filly was timed in :17.463.
The Childers Ranch-homebred Hawks Dream Girl (Hawkinson-Million Dreams by Apollo (TB)) should gain support after rolling to a 1 ½-length trial win. The Dan Francisco-trained filly was a narrow winner of a maiden race two starts ago and stepped up with the impressive trial score in the third-fastest time of :17.468.
In the Governors Cup Derby, Pink Boots RM (Walk Thru Fire-Furash Alert (TB) by Gold Alert) should be favored to gain her first stakes win after easily winning her latest five starts while moving up in class. She started her winning spree at the $12,500 conditioned-claiming level and set the fastest qualifying time to the derby in her most recent start.
In her trial, Pink Boots RM rolled to a 1 ½-length win in :19.374 for the 400 yards.
The Childers homebred Peace Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Be Peacefull by Raise A Secret) looks to complete the Governors Cup Futurity-Derby double. Last year she capped a three-race winning streak with a neck win in the Governor’s Cup Futurity as the 4-5 favorite.
With defending champion and world champion Freaky passing on the 400-yard Childers, the race opens up and A Streakinson (Hawkinson-Streakit Special by Special Effort) could be ready to take advantage of the opportunity for owners Steve Burns, John Andreini and Danny Cardoza.
The Adan Farias-trained gelding stepped up to the stakes ranks in his most recent start and came through with a troubled second-place finish in the Vessels Maturity (G1). The 7-10 favorite, he veered out at the start and then rallied to get within a head of Blues Man Too.
Bloke and Frankie Shoots should also be dangerous in the Childers.
Ramon Alanis’s Bloke (Fishers Dash-Blanket Splitter by El Rey Burner) was a close third in the Vessels Maturity and fourth in the Los Alamitos Winter Championship (G1) for trainer Miguel Rodriguez.
Azoom LP’s Frankie Shoots (Dashin Bye-Shake N Shoot by Tolltac) had a productive Remington Park campaign for trainer Paul Jones with a second in the Eastex Handicap (G2) and a third in the Leo Stakes (G1). He comes off a second-place run behind A Mere Splash in a Los Alamitos allowance race.
Rancho El Alacran’ My Lady First (First Down Dash-Lady of the Lake (TB) by Salt Lake) makes her 2010 debut in the $50,000 Matron Stakes, a race she won in 2009. The 2009 championship contender also won her Directors Trial, was second in the Mildred Vessels (G1) and fifth in the Champion of Champions (G1).
David and Ross Hinkins’ Ed Burke Million winner First Down Illusion (First Down Dash-Fishers Fantasy by For Really(TB)) races in the Freshman Stakes before preparing for his fall futurity run in the Golden State Million (G1) and the Los Alamitos Two Million (G1). The Adan Farias-trained gelding upset the Ed Burke field at 30-1 odds while breaking his maiden in his fifth career start.
If First Down Illusion can add the Golden State Million and Los Alamitos Two Million to his resume after his Ed Burke victory, then he will take the $1 million Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza.
Marco Barajas’ Regal Tol (A Regal Choice-Classic Tol by A Classic Dash) heads the $25,000 Jens List Jr. Memorial Stakes (RG3). He was claimed for $10,000 and then reeled off three consecutive wins against maiden and conditioned allowance company. The sophomore gelding raced 350 yards in a fast :17.176 to win his most recent start after breaking through the gate prior to the start.