Bp Cartel Policy needs clean break in Golden State Derby

Bp Cartel Policy had a three-race win streak end with a troubled fifth in a division of the Golden State Derby trials on Aug. 17 at Los Alamitos.

The consolation was Bp Cartel Policy ran in the fastest of three time trials. Beaten two lengths by Rockin With Energy, Bp Cartel Policy was quick enough to secure the eighth of 10 qualifying times for Saturday’s $193,400 final at 400 yards.

If Bp Cartel Policy can avoid a troubled start that plagued his Aug. 17 race, the gelding can win his third stakes of 2024.

Owned by Bill Price and trained by Monty Arrossa, Bp Cartel Policy won the $174,200 Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February, and his only start of the spring in the $35,000 Dillingham Handicap for 3-year-olds on May 11.

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Understandably, Bp Cartel Policy was 2-5 on Aug. 17 to win the second of three trials for the Golden State Derby. He jumped toward the inside at the start and could not recover.

Rockin With Energy, trained by Paul Jones, established the fastest qualifying time of 19.75 seconds that evening. The first five finishers from that trial have advanced to the final.

Kickin Famous, fourth in the Winter Derby, won the first trial in 19.91 seconds, one of three qualifiers from that division. The filly Cowgirl Upp won the final trial in 19.82 seconds, beating Kevins Wise Corona, the only other qualifier from that race.

Rockin With Energy, one of three fillies in Saturday’s race, was a troubled ninth behind Bp Cartel Policy in the Winter Derby. After a slow start, Rockin With Energy nearly unseated jockey Jesus Ayala when she clipped heels while racing behind the leaders.

Rockin With Energy has not lost since. She won the minor California Breeders’ Debutante Stakes at 350 yards for fillies on July 27 in her first start since the Winter Derby.

Rockin With Energy has been successful in major stakes. In June 2023, she finished second by a neck in the $860,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity.

Jones also trains Kevins Wise Corona and Optical Illusion, who was third behind Kickin Famous in the trials.

Optical Illusion is winless in seven starts this year and is starting in his sixth stakes final. Last year, Optical Illusion won two races and finished third in the $1.75 million Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity despite breaking through the gate before the start.

The Golden State Derby is the leading race for 3-year-olds of the summer at Los Alamitos. The next race on the schedule, the Los Alamitos Super Derby on Nov. 10, is expected to draw a much tougher field, including shippers from New Mexico.

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