Derby trials filled with class

Eye for Corona, the winner of last Novembers Golden State Million, and One Famous Eagle, the winner of the Los Alamitos Two Million in December, top two of the three trials to the Grade 1, $250,000 Golden State Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos. In all, 22 horses will vie for the 10 spots in the finals.

Eye for Corona has earned more than $1 million. In addition to her win in the Grade 1 Golden State Million, she finished second last year in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million and the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million. She will be making her first start since being beaten a head by One Famous Eagle in the Two Million on Dec. 14.

She stumbled badly in her last work, but other than that, shes been training excellent, said trainer Paul Jones.

One Famous Eagle returned from his Two Million win to impressively win a 350-yard allowance race at Los Alamitos on July 25 by a length and a quarter.

He has really come back well this year, said trainer John Bassett. [This year] hes much more focused.

The lightly raced My Buddie comes into the trials off a close third-place finish in the Grade 1 Governors Cup Derby. He had two wins from two starts last year and has been beaten a head while finishing third in both of his starts this year.

Hes still learning, said trainer Mike Joiner. He came out of the Governors Cup great. He just needs a race or two.