Apollitical Pence, Flash Bak fastest in Brad McKinzie Winter Championship trials
For the second time in slightly more than two months, Apollitical Pence and Flash Bak will meet in a top race for older Quarter Horses at Los Alamitos in the $152,700 Brad McKinzie Winter Championship on Feb. 20.
Apollitical Pence and Flash Bak were first and second in the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 11, separated by three-quarters of a length. Sunday at Los Alamitos, Apollitical Pence and Flash Bak won time trials for the Winter Championship. The winner of the Winter Championship receives a berth to the Champion of Champions in December.
Apollitical Pence ($2.40) won the first of three 400-yard trials in 19.55 seconds, which turned out to be the fastest qualifying time. Trained by Monty Arrossa for Matt Dunn, Apollitical Pence led throughout to win by 1 3/4 lengths over Cattail Cove, who was timed in 19.82 seconds and earned a position in the final.
The runners with the 10 fastest times, regardless of finishing position, advanced to the final.
La Estrella Corona ($11.20) won the second division in 19.79 seconds in her first start since a sixth-place finish in the $150,600 Southern California Derby on Dec. 19. Gotta Corona Jess was second to La Estrella Corona in 19.88 seconds, which was the 10th and final qualifying time.
Flash Bak ($3.20) won the final trial in 19.59 seconds, finishing three-quarters of a length in front of qualifier Circle City, who won the Vessels Maturity last July and was sixth in the Champion of Champions in December.
Other qualifiers are You Can Run, Just a Dasha Hero, Stolen Lives, and Mister Tornado.
The Winter Championship is the track’s first major race of the year for older horses.
On Feb. 19, the $212,000 Los Alamitos Winter Derby will be the track’s first major stakes of the year for 3-year-olds.
Scoops Dynasty is the fastest qualifier after winning the first of four 400-yard trials for the Winter Derby in 19.72 seconds on Saturday.
Trained by Arrossa for Edward and Von Zae McNelis, Scoops Dynasty ($5.80) won by two lengths in 19.72 seconds and was the only qualifier from that division. Scoops Dynasty has won 2 of 6 starts and was third by a neck in the Challenge Juvenile Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque in October, his only start away from Los Alamitos.
A Pollitical Candy V ($8.20) won the second trial in 19.86 seconds, a clocking slightly slower than the winning time of 19.77 seconds in the third trial set by Amadeus MV ($15.80). A Famous Ribbon ($24.80) won the final division in 19.85 seconds.
Other qualifiers are Corona Yo, Empty Promise, Jess Being a Friend, Fortunate Corona, Eye on the Sky, and Daytona 1000.
Jess Being a Friend was second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December and was a troubled third behind A Pollitical Candy V in Saturday’s trials.