Hulapai wins another for Farias

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. - Hulapai finished his 3-year-old season with a career-best performance in Sunday's $158,850 Southern California Derby at Los Alamitos, providing another highlight to trainer Adan Farias's remarkable weekend.

Saturday, the Farias-trained Freaky clinched the World Champion title with a victory in the Champion of Champions.

Hulapai ($20.80) led throughout the 400-yard Southern California Derby, finishing a half-length in front of 3-2 favorite Saturday Nite Fever. Fantastic Corona Jr finished third in the field of 10. Saturday Nite Fever was fifth for the first 200 yards and closed well to just miss.

Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, Hulapai was timed in 19.35 seconds on a track rated good from weekend rain. Owned by Carlos Romero, Hulapai has won 7 of 14 starts and $188,177. He has earned $145,247 this year.

Romero said that Hulapai will race through the winter and will be pointed for the Los Alamitos Winter Championship in February. The Southern California Derby was a Grade 1 race and was Hulapai's first win at that level. His best previous performance in a major stakes was a second in the Governor's Cup Derby here in July.