Burke trials draw sharp duo

Two days of trials at Los Alamitos begin Friday night with the trials to the Bayer Legend California Derby, and culminate with the first- and third-place finishers of the Grade 1 Kindergarten competing Saturday in the trials to the Ed Burke Million.

Czech N Out Ashley comes into the derby trials off wins in the Dillingham Handicap at the trial distance of 400 yards and then stretching out to win the 550-yard Buccaneer Beach Handicap. He won each by three-quarters of a length.

The trials for the Grade 1, $1 million Ed Burke attracted two of the sharpest juveniles at Los Alamitos: Carters Cartel and Miss Kittys Bar Bet.

Carters Cartel comes off a 9-1 upset victory in the $366,000 Kindergarten when he prevailed by a neck with a 15.27-second time for the 300 yards. The Jaime Gomez-trained colt qualified for the Kindergarten by winning his trial by 1 3/4 lengths in 15.44 seconds.

Miss Kittys Bar Bet was the star of the Kindergarten trials when she set the fastest qualifying time of 15.32 seconds. She went off as the 9-5 favorite in the Kindergarten and was hit hard at the start but managed to salvage third place.