Big trial win makes Tell Cartel the favorite in Los Alamitos Super Derby

A low-key approach to the day-to-day training of Tell Cartel earlier this fall led to a brilliant performance by the colt in time trials for the Los Alamitos Super Derby on Oct. 17.

Tell Cartel ran 400 yards in 19.59 seconds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths, to set the fastest qualifying time for Sunday’s $1,052,350 final. The comprehensive victory will make Tell Cartel the favorite to win his third derby of the year.

Owned and bred by Martha Wells, Tell Cartel is trained by Matt Fales. Tell Cartel won the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February and the El Primero Del Ano Derby in March. Tell Cartel was fourth in the Golden State Derby in August. He was later sixth after a poor start in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby trials in September.

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To gain a spot in the Super Derby, Fales said he reduced Tell Cartel’s daily exercise with the hope of regaining springtime form.

“I did not train him as hard coming into this race,” Fales told Los Alamitos publicity after the trial race win. “Right now, he has a bounce to him that is nice.

“He did not have any big workout. Instead of doing that, I just let him be him.”

Sunday’s Super Derby has the richest purse in the 66-year history of the race. There is a bonus to the winner – a berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions against older horses on Dec. 12.

Tell Cartel, who will be ridden by Ruben Lozano, has won 7 of 17 starts and earned $271,839. A colt by top Quarter Horse stallion Favorite Cartel, Tell Cartel drew post 5 in a field of 10.

Even with the attractive trial race win, there is plenty of competition capable of beating Tell Cartel.

Oatman Creek Senator and Cattail Cove were first and third in the $100,000 All American Invitational at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 6, the consolation to the All American Derby.

John Carter Cash, a trial race winner in 19.66 seconds, won the California Challenge Championship at 440 yards in August. The filly Kiss Thru Fire, a trial race winner in 19.62 seconds, was second in the All American Oaks at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 6.

The Super Derby is the eighth and final race on a program scheduled to start at 5 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.