Apollitical Patty dazzles in Los Alamitos Oaks trials

Apollitical Patty had a brilliant 2-year-old season in 2020, highlighted by a sharp win against an excellent field in the $1,977,250 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December.

That may have been the prologue. Last Saturday, Apollitical Patty showed she may be better this year, with an easy win by an eye-catching 3 1/2 lengths in the first of three divisions of the $427,500 Los Alamitos Oaks. Not surprisingly, Apollitical Patty set the fastest 400-yard qualifying time of 19.55 seconds for the March 27 final.

The time seems to be what it takes to race at the highest level at Los Alamitos. Apollitical Patty won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity at 400 yards in 19.56, finishing a half-length in front of Flash Bak, who returned to win the $203,950 Los Alamitos Winter Derby on Feb. 13.

Apollitical Gold, winner of the Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos on Nov. 1, was third in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. Apollitical Gold was third in the $3 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs last September, and has yet to start this year. The filly is in training at Remington Park.

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Apollitical Patty was one of three outstanding trial race winners for the Los Alamitos Oaks, a race previously known as the La Primera Del Ano Derby that has risen in prominence since the purse was increased in 2020. The Los Alamitos Oaks trial was Apollitical Patty’s first start for owner Juliana Hawn Holt, who bought the filly privately in January from the family of the late Jim Walker.

The other trial race winners for the Los Alamitos Oaks were Terrific Temper, who was second in the Ed Burke Million Futurity last June and ninth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, and Aint She Tempting, who was second in the Golden State Million.

Terrific Temper was timed in 19.75, while Aint She Tempting was clocked in 20.07. Monty Arrossa trains Apollitical Patty and Aint She Tempting, while Terrific Temper is trained by Chris O’Dell.

The fillies in the Los Alamitos Oaks trials are a much deeper group than the colts and geldings who raced in Sunday’s El Primero Del Ano Derby trials.

Constituent, winner of the Governor’s Cup Futurity last July, set the fastest-qualifying time of 19.80 for the $225,200 final on March 28 for trainer Valentin Zamudio.

Trainer Paul Jones won the other two trials with BF Outfoosed (19.81) and Untuckit (19.95).

While Apollitical Patty should be a strong favorite in the Los Alamitos Oaks, the El Primero Del Ano Derby will be a more competitive betting race.