Constituent should have easier time in El Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos

Constituent has won six of his last seven starts, the only loss in that span a troubled eighth in the $1.07 million Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos last November.

Constituent does not face opposition anywhere close to caliber of that race in Sunday’s $225,200 El Primero Del Ano Derby for colts and geldings at 400 yards at Los Alamitos. Constituent was the fastest qualifier in time trials for the El Primero Del Ano Derby on March 7 – 400 yards in 19.80 seconds – and will be a strong favorite.

Trained by Valentin Zamudio, Constituent has won 7 of 9 starts in his career, highlighted by a win in the Governor’s Cup Futurity at Los Alamitos last July. In the El Primero time trials, Constituent was 3-10 and won by 1 1/2 lengths over Garda Da Cash, who will be a longshot in Sunday’s final.

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BF Outfoosed (19.81 seconds) and Untuckit (19.95) seconds won the other two time trials, and have experience in lucrative finals.

BF Outfoosed, trained by Paul Jones, had his first start of 2021 in the trials, winning by three-quarters of a length over qualifier Fly the Coup, a stablemate. Last year, BF Outfoosed qualified for three futurities, with a fourth in the Governor’s Cup his best result.

Untuckit was sixth in the Governor’s Cup Futurity in his final start of 2021 and last race for trainer Chris O’Dell. Now trained by Jones, Untuckit was second in an allowance race at 330 yards on Feb. 21 before the trial race win on March 7.

Jones has four of the 10 qualifiers, including Garda Da Cash and Fly the Coup.

Zamudio has three finalists, including Dont Ride the Slide, second to Untuckit, and This Parties Hoppin, who was third to BF Outfoosed.