Golden Boi, In Hott Pursuit among Golden State Million Futurity qualifiers

Golden Boi and In Hott Pursuit, first and second in the $1.1 million Ed Burke Million Futurity in June, will meet for the second time this year in a seven-figure race in the $1.1 million Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos on Oct. 31.

In time trials on Sunday, Golden Boi won the first of 11 400-yard trials in 19.75 seconds to set the fastest qualifying time. In Hott Pursuit needed a little luck to gain a berth in the final. In Hott Pursuit finished second to Chizum in the sixth trial with a clocking of 20.009 seconds. La Blue Amore, second in the third trial, also had a time of 20.009 seconds.

Since In Hott Pursuit and La Blue Amore tied for the 10^th and final qualifying time, a random shake was held after the races that went in favor of In Hott Pursuit.

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Six trial race winners and four second-place finishers earned positions in the final.

Golden Boi, trained by Valentin Zamudio, finished 1 1/4 lengths in front of Hallelujah Nights, who earned a berth in the final. Golden Boi overcame a poor start to win without difficultly.

Hallelujah Nights was timed in 19.92 seconds for the fifth-fastest qualifying time. Hallelujah Nights was last of 10 in the Burke and third in the $200,000 All American Juvenile at Ruidoso Downs, the consolation to the All American Futurity, on Sept. 6.

Hallejulah Nights is trained by Monty Arrossa, who led all stables with three qualifiers for the Golden State Million, including In Hott Pursuit and Whizkey Glasses, who won the 10^th trial.

Trainer Jose Flores has two qualifiers in Chizum, who won the sixth division, and Dasha Dynasty, who was second in the 10^th trial. Chizum was fourth in the Burke and sixth in the All American Juvenile.

Just a Kool Baby, a maiden race winner on Sept. 25 in his second start, won the fourth trial in 19.80 seconds for the second-fastest qualifying time, and is certain to attract support in the final. An Oklahoma-bred colt, Just a Kool Baby is trained by Eddie Willis, who won the 2020 Golden State Million with Apollitical Gold.

Other qualifiers for this year’s Golden State Million Futurity are trial race winners Fortunate Corona and Minecraft and Significant Dynasty, who was second to Just a Kool Baby.