Golden Boi outfinishes Whizkey Glasses in El Primero Del Ano Derby
CYPRESS, Calif. - Golden Golden Boi, the champion 2-year-old Quarter Horse colt of 2021, produced a stunning rally in the final 100 yards to win Sunday’s $215,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby in his 2022 stakes debut.
Ridden by Ruben Lozano, Golden Boi ($2.80) trailed 5-2 Whizkey Glasses by slightly more than a neck midway through the 400-yard race and won by a head in 19.92 seconds. Tip Ofmy Tongue (23-1) finished third in the field of 10 colts and geldings.
Golden Boi and Whizkey Glasses were scheduled to meet in the $1.1 million Golden State Million Futurity last October, but Golden Boi was withdrawn because of illness.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.
Golden Boi, who races for M & G Farms and trainer Valentin Zamudio, did not start again until a win in a division of the El Primero Del Ano Derby trials on March 6. Golden Boi set the fastest qualifying time in those trials of 19.62 seconds, while Whizkey Glasses had the second-best time of 19.83 seconds.
Golden Boi has won 6 of 8 starts and earned $583,491. Zamudio said Golden Boi will be pointed for the Rainbow and All American derbys at Ruidoso Downs this summer, which will be the colt’s first starts at 440 yards.