Los Alamitos Winter Derby Trials Preview

Twenty-five sophomores are entered in Saturday's 400-yard trials.

Chicks First Flash. PHOTO: Amber Mendez

Chicks First Flash will make the first start of his sophomore campaign in Saturday's Los Alamitos Winter Derby trials. PHOTO: Amber Mendez

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January 27, 2023 | Racing , Racing | Racing , Racing

Grade 2 winner Chicks First Flash and Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity (G1) finalists Hay Shaker and Good Wagon SA are among the 25 3-year-olds entered in Saturday's 400-yard Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1) trials at Los Alamitos Racecourse.

The 10 fastest qualifiers from the three trials will meet in the February 18, $183,350 Los Alamitos Winter Derby final.

A homebred son of champion First Moonflash trained by Monty Arrossa for owner Five Livestock Company LLC, Chicks First Flash ended his 2-year-old season with a half-length victory in the 350-yard, $325,000 PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity (G2) in October. The homebred gelding has earned $214,987 from seven races, all at Los Alamitos, and his juvenile record included a second-place finish, three-quarters of a length behind winner Valiantli, in the 300-yard, $258,000 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity (G2).

Chicks First Flash drew the rail post and will be driven by Armando Cervantes in the third trial.

Hay Shaker is a gray son of Favorite Cartel trained by Jaime Gomez for owners Alfredo Alonzo, Luciano D. Martinez, and Robert C. Martinez. The gelding was claimed for $12,500 on August 21, and he since has qualified to the October 30, $1.087-million Golden State Million Futurity (G1), and the December 11, $1.884-million Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity (G1).

Hay Shaker drew post 5 and will be ridden by Oscar Peinado in the first heat. The gelding's seven opponents in the first trial include Good Wagon SA, a son of Good Reason SA racing for J. Francisco Diaz from the barn of his son, trainer Lindolfo Diaz. Good Wagon SA has banked $106,801 from five outs, and he ended his 2-year-old campaign with a sixth-place finish in the Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity.

Good Wagon SA drew the rail post and will be ridden by Jesus Ayala.

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