Hawkish goes after bonus under new trainer

When Hawkish takes another step toward a potential $1 million bonus in the Los Alamitos Million trials on Nov. 28, he will have a new trainer, Danny Cardoza, who has twice won the Los Alamitos Million.

Cardoza trained champion Dashing Knud to victory in the 2000 Los Alamitos Million and champion Your First Moon to her Million win in 2001.

Hawkish, who is owned by Enrique Gonzalez, will earn the $1 million Los Alamitos Bonanza if he wins the Grade 1, $1.3 million-estimated Los Alamitos Million on Dec. 12. He won the first two legs of the Bonanza series, the Kindergarten and the Ed Burke Memorial futurities. His most recent start was an overwhelming victory in the Grade 1 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Futurity on Oct. 4.

Hawkish was trained in his three Grade 1 futurity wins by Concepcion Balderrama, but owner Gonzalez has since made a switch. "We were not communicating like we should have, so I felt that I needed to make a change," Gonzalez said. "We parted ways but we are still good friends."

Cardoza took over Hawkish's training after going to work for Gonzalez at his EG High Desert Farm in Temecula, Calif., in early October.

"I've watched all of his races and I think he's the fastest 2-year-old here at Los Alamitos since Corona Chick," said Cardoza. Corona Chick set the Los Alamitos 350-yard track record (17.22 seconds) in 1991.

"He's coming up to the trials perfect," Cardoza said. "His hoof abscess has grown out. We just put new shoes on him and there is no problem. He's a very smart horse and keeps himself fit. We'll breeze him and then just gallop him before the trials."

Oak Tree Special after Texas Classic

Three-time derby winner Oak Tree Special is the horse to watch Friday night at Lone Star Park in four talent-laden trials to the Grade 1, $400,000-estimated Texas Classic Derby.

A deep finals on Nov. 28 is virtually assured since 10 of the 39 trial entrants are graded-stakes winners.

Oak Tree Special comes off a win in the Grade 1, $191,100 Dash for Cash Derby over Rainbow Derby winner Silvered Eyes. Oak Tree Special also won the Grade 1 Remington Park Derby and the Grade 1 Heritage Place Derby.

Other Grade 1 winners in the trials are All American Derby winner Snow Big Deal, Heritage Place Derby winner Frostys Money Man, Texas Classic Futurity winner Capones Vault, and Sam Houston Futurity winner Shiney Sign.

Ima Perry Girl in futurity trials

Ima Perry Girl, a close second in the Grade 1, $393,000 Dash for Cash Futurity, returns in the trials to the Grade 1, $1 million-estimated Texas Classic Futurity on Saturday night at Lone Star Park.

The 15 trials have 142 entrants and will begin at 5:30 p.m. Central.

The John Buchanan-trained Ima Perry Girl, winner of two races from eight starts, finished just a nose behind the late-running I Make Em Shake in the Dash for Cash Futurity.

Other Dash for Cash Futurity finalists in the Texas Classic trials are Sixes Royal, Counting Sheep, and Will to Win.

West Coast Okie seeks three in a row

West Coast Okie will be after his third consecutive stakes win in the Grade 3, $35,000 Corona Chick Handicap for juveniles on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

West Coast Okie, trained by Adan Farias, comes off wins in the Pomona Juvenile Championship at Fairplex Park and the Autumn Handicap at Los Alamitos. He has four wins and a second-place finish in his last seven starts.