Discontent leads Allred quartet in Governor’s Cup Futurity

CYPRESS, Calif. – Discontent holds the fastest qualifying time for Saturday’s $357,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity at Los Alamitos, but his position at the head of the race is not secure.

Discontent is one of four starters in the field of 10 racing for track owner Ed Allred. Allred also owns and bred He Looks Hot, Chicanery, and Mystery Man – the second-, third-, and fifth-fastest qualifiers from the July 12 time trials. Arguments can be made for each runner.

Discontent ran 350 yards in 17.61 seconds in the trials, winning by 1 1/2 lengths. He Looks Hot was a trial winner in 17.64 seconds, scoring a 16-1 upset in his first start as a gelding. Discontent and He Looks Hot are trained by Scott Willoughby. Rodrigo Aceves rode both geldings in the trials and will ride Discontent in the final.

Willoughby said Discontent is thriving this month.

“He didn’t make mistakes,” Willoughby said of the trial. “He should be tough in the final.”

As for He Looks Hot, Willoughby said, “He’s paying more attention and looks good now.”

Chicanery can improve in the final. Trained by Connie Hall, he won a division of the trials in 17.67 seconds despite being bumped by rivals.

Two finalists have stakes experience. Mystery Man, trained by Jose Flores, was seventh in the Kindergarten Futurity on May 18. Hot Shot, trained by Roberto Dominguez, was eighth in the Ed Burke Million Futurity on June 22. Mystery Man won a division of the trials, while Hot Shot was second to Chicanery.

The Governor’s Cup Futurity is the richest race on a 14-race program that includes 10 stakes. There are two other six-figure races over 400 yards – the $198,100 Governor’s Cup Derby and the $100,000 Spencer Childers Championship for older horses.

Rematch in Derby

Up For It and Moonist, first and second in the 2013 Governor’s Cup Futurity, meet for the second time this year in the Governor’s Cup Derby.

Moonist has better form in 2014, having won the El Primero Del Ano Derby on April 6. Trained by John Cooper, Moonist won a division of the Governor’s Cup Derby trials on July 13. Up For It was fourth in that race in his first start of the year.

The fastest qualifier is Foose Is Loose, trained and co-owned by Paul Jones.

◗ Once Over, owned by Allred and trained by Willoughby, leads a field of eight in the Childers Championship that includes New Look, the winner of the 2012 El Primero Del Ano Derby. Once Over was third in the Grade 1 Vessels Maturity on July 6.