Heza Dasha Fire seeks to remain eligible for lucrative bonus in Golden State Million Futurity

Heza Dasha Fire, the winner of the Ed Burke Million Futurity in June, will be a strong favorite to win Sunday’s $1,031,100 Golden State Million Futurity at Los Alamitos. A win could put Heza Dasha Fire closer to a seven-figure bonus.

Trained by Lindolfo Diaz, Heza Dasha Fire set the fastest qualifying time for the Golden State Million, running 400 yards in 19.49 seconds Oct. 19. The gelding, who races for Don, Kathy, and Shawn Meneely of Washington state, is unbeaten in four starts and will be a heavy favorite in the Golden State Million Futurity.

The Golden State Million Futurity trial was Heza Dasha Fire’s first start since the Ed Burke final.

The Futurity field includes Apollitical Blood, who was fourth in the $2.6 million All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 1.

Heza Dasha Fire remains eligible for a $1 million bonus if he can win the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity and the Los Alamitos Two Million on Dec. 14. The Burke, Golden State, and Los Alamitos Two Million futurities are part of a series that has not been swept since inaugurated in 1998.

Super Derby postponed

The Golden State Million is the only Grade 1 stakes at Los Alamitos this weekend. The track has postponed the Los Alamitos Super Derby, which was scheduled for Saturday, until Nov. 15 to allow horses with the 30 fastest times from the time trials Oct. 12 to undergo extensive drug testing.

In a statement released Thursday, the track announced that the list of 10 finalists could change from the trials, pending the results of tests. In the trials, trainer Eloy Navarro started eight of the 10 fastest qualifiers.

The Super Derby winner receives an automatic berth in the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 13. On Thursday, the track announced that all 10 qualifiers for the Champion of Champions must be on the grounds by Nov. 22 and will undergo hair-follicle testing to determine whether the breathing medication clenbuterol has been administered within the last six months.

There has been a rash of clenbuterol positives at Los Alamitos in recent years. The medication is not allowed to appear in post-race tests.

The Champion of Champions plays a pivotal role in voting for year-end championships.