El Primero Del Ano Derby a showdown between Golden Boi and Whizkey Glasses

Nearly five months later than expected, Golden Boi, the champion 2-year-old Quarter Horse colt of 2021, and Whizkey Glasses, a major futurity winner last year, will meet for the first time in Sunday’s $215,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos.

The pair were expected to be the principal runners in the $1.1 million Golden State Million Futurity last October, but Golden Boi was withdrawn because of illness. Whizkey Glasses won the Golden State Million Futurity for his second stakes win.

Adding intrigue to Sunday’s El Primero Del Ano Derby, Golden Boi and Whizkey Glasses both won qualifying trials on March 6. Golden Boi, owned by M & G Farms and trained by Valentin Zamudio, ran 400 yards in 19.62 seconds, setting the fastest qualifying time with a two-length win in his first start since a trial race for the Golden State Million last October.

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Whizkey Glasses won a trial for the El Primero in 19.83 seconds, setting the second-fastest qualifying time in his first start of 2022. After the Golden State Million, Whizkey Glasses was third in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December for owner Matt Dunn and trainer Monty Arrossa.

Sunday’s final drew a field of 10. Whizkey Glasses drew post 2, while Golden Boi drew post 9.

Arrossa has won three six-figure stakes this year – two at Los Alamitos and one at Remington Park last weekend – but is fearful Whizkey Glasses may not beat Golden Boi.

“Running against Golden Boi is quite a task,” Arrossa said on Thursday. “That horse looked phenomenal in his trial for being off as long as he was. He’s superstar.”

There were three trials for the El Primero Del Ano Derby. Watch Out, fifth in the Los Alamitos Two Million, won the slowest division in 19.98 seconds.

Whizkey Glasses was beaten two lengths in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity by Bomb Cyclone, who is not expected to race until the Ruidoso Downs season this summer. Dasha Good Reason, fourth in the Los Alamitos Two Million, also starts in the El Primero Del Ano Derby.

Whizkey Glasses has won 7 of 10 starts and earned $768,983, the most among the finalists for the El Primero Del Ano Derby.

“The horse is doing fantastic,” Arrossa said. “I think we’ve done everything we can do to prepare for the final.

“He came out of the trial super sound. I just think he needs luck.”