Another Oatie tops Southern California Derby

CYPRESS, Calif. - Through 2014, the 3-year-old Quarter Horses Another Oatie, All Guns Firing and Dynasty of Habits have chased Moonist in several derbies at Los Alamitos.

In Sunday’s $145,850 Southern California Derby, they are finally rid of him. Moonist missed the Southern California Derby trials on Nov. 30 because of a bruised foot, and will not start again until early 2015. Moonist won four consecutive derbies earlier this year, and would have been a heavy favorite if he had qualified for the Southern California Derby.

Without him, the role of favorite will go to Another Oatie, the fastest qualifier from the time trials. The Southern California Derby is the final major stakes of the year at Los Alamitos.

KEY CONTENDERS

Another Oatie

* Trained by Juan Aleman, Another Oatie ran 400 yards in 19.83 seconds in the time trials, his first win since the $112,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes in February. In August, he was eighth behind Moonist in the Golden State Derby.

* In the trial race, Another Oatie accelerated after a moderate start.

“He broke okay, but after three strides he really started flying,” jockey Rodolfo Arvizu said that night.

Dynasty of Habits

* Second in a division of the time trials to the well-regarded Tres Pescado, Dynasty of Habits was fifth in the Governor’s Cup Derby in July and third in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby in October, losing both races to Moonist.

* Dynasty of Habits is one of four fillies in the Southern California Derby field, along with La Dejona, Quirky, and Zigfield Follies.

All Guns Firing

* A trial race winner on Nov. 30, All Guns Firing was sixth in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby in October. Jockey Cody Joiner rode Dynasty of Habits and All Guns Firing in the time trials, but will ride Dynasty of Habits in the final. Cesar De Alba, the regular rider of Moonist, has the mount on All Guns Firing.

Tres Pescado

* Trained by Jose Antonio Flores, Tres Pescado made his second start of 2014 in the Southern California Derby time trials, winning his division in 19.865 seconds. The time represented the second fastest from three time trials.