La Jaconde kicks off late wave of talented runners in Ed Burke Million Futurity trials

By the time La Jaconde starts in the ninth of 12 time trials for the Ed Burke Million Futurity on Sunday at Los Alamitos, there will be a working list of 10 qualifiers for the $1.1 million final on June 21.

There could be notable changes on the list through the final four trials.

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The runners with the 10 fastest times in the 350-yard trials advance to the final, the first of three six-figure futurities at Los Alamitos this year. The Golden State Million Futurity is Nov. 1, followed by the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity on Dec. 13.

La Jaconde won the $279,200 Kindergarten Futurity on May 17 and is the only stakes winner among the 112 runners entered Sunday. Thirty-four of the 112 have won a race. First post time is 5 p.m., Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

La Jaconde won the Kindergarten after surging between rivals in the final 100 yards of the 300-yard race. Owned by Balgo Racing Team and trained by Jaime Gomez, La Jaconde set the fastest qualifying time from the May 3 trials to the Kindergarten.

After La Jaconde’s appearance in Sunday’s ninth race, there are high expectations for two maiden winners in the final trials. Eagle Empire, who won his debut by 1 1/4 lengths in a 300-yard maiden race April 10, runs in the 11th race, while Alltime Favorite, who won his debut by a half-length in a 300-yard maiden race May 15, will be favored in the 12th race.

Eagle Empire, trained by Mike Robbins, was purchased for $160,000 at the Ruidoso yearling sale last summer.

Alltime Favorite is making a quick turnaround and is trained by Monty Arrossa, whose stable has been in excellent form at Los Alamitos and Remington Park.

Three other runners from the Kindergarten start earlier in the program. Jeanetics, seventh in the Kindergarten, figures to be favored in the second race, while PYC Powerglide, fifth in the Kindergarten, has excellent credentials to win the seventh race.

In the eighth race, Hi High Hopes, a maiden after three starts, will have his first start since a sixth in the Kindergarten.

“I think he’ll love the extra distance,” trainer Paul Jones said. “It should help him.”

In the first race, Jones starts Fly the Coup, who was scratched from the Kindergarten as a precaution because of a bruised foot, the trainer said. Jones has high hopes for the filly Jess Lyndes Reason, a maiden race winner April 18 who starts in the sixth trial.

Trainers Chris O’Dell, Jose Flores, and Gomez have runners in all 12 trials. Robbins has runners in 11 trials, while Jones has runners in 10.