Four put perfect records on the line in Ed Burke Million Futurity
Even before Aint He Tempting’s debut on April 30, trainer Monty Arrossa knew what to expect from the 2-year-old Quarter Horse colt.
Arrossa trained Aint He Tempting’s full sister, Aint She Tempting, a major stakes winner in 2020 and 2021 who earned $727,427.
To see Aint He Tempting win his first two starts was not a surprise. A win in Sunday’s $1 million Ed Burke Million Futurity at 350 yards at Los Alamitos is easy to predict, considering the colt’s perfect start to his career.
The Burke is the first of the track’s three seven-figure futurities, a series that continues with the Golden State Million Futurity in November and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December.
Aint He Tempting, who races for Matt and Bendi Dunn, set the fastest qualifying time of 17.641 seconds for the Burke in time trials on May 29. Aint He Tempting, who was ridden by Armando Cervantes, won by two lengths despite being unruly in the gate before the start.
Arrossa told Los Alamitos publicity after the trial that Aint She Tempting is better at the gate then Aint He Tempting.
“I think he might be a little stronger at the end,” he said. “They’re both good to work with.”
Aint He Tempting, purchased for $120,000 as a yearling in New Mexico last year, won his debut in a maiden special weight race at 300 yards on April 30. While an impressive trial race winner for the Burke, Aint He Tempting will need to be as good, if not better, to beat trial race winners Dk Double A and Quirky Bitty Jess on Sunday. They are also undefeated after two starts.
Dk Double A, trained by Jose Flores, won a division of the trials in 17.77 over Apollitical Jet, who is trained by Valentin Zamudio.
Quirky Bitty Jess, trained by Lindolfo Diaz, was timed in a rapid 17.644, just missing the role of fastest qualifier. Quirky Bitty Jess overcame a bump with a rival at the start to win the trial by 1 1/4 lengths.
One of four fillies in the final, Quirky Bitty Jess won a maiden special weight race at 300 yards on April 30. The filly is owned by Francisco Diaz, the trainer’s father, who won the 2019 Burke with Flokie who was trained by Flores.
In Sunday’s final, the Diazes also start the undefeated gelding El Aventurero, who was a trial race winner in 17.82.
Zamudio won the 2021 Burke with Golden Boi, later named champion 2-year-old colt. Zamudio qualified the filly Eyetinerari to this year’s Burke, but she will miss the race because of injury, he said Friday. Her absence left a place for trial race winner Henry D to join the field for trainer Paul Jones.
The Burke is the last of nine races on a Sunday evening program. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.