Los Alamitos: Aleman has strong pair in rich Super Derby

Bon Accord and Remembering Spence give trainer Juan Aleman a formidable duo in Saturday’s $953,200 Los Alamitos Super Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horses. He will need it.

Befitting a race with that purse, the Los Alamitos Super Derby has drawn a strong field. Matabari, who breaks from the rail, won the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last December. Scoop of Sunshine won the Governor’s Cup Derby in July. Add Henoshersecret, who was third in the El Primero Del Ano Derby in April; Otoole Hero, the fastest qualifier from the Oct. 12 time trials; and Kat Quick, who was seventh in the Ruidoso Derby in June, and the field has depth.

Bon Accord and Remembering Spence have the credentials to win the Super Derby, run over 400 yards. The winner receives an automatic berth to the $750,000 Champion of Champions against older horses at Los Alamitos on Dec. 14.

Bon Accord was the fastest qualifier for the $2.8 million All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs on Sept. 1 and finished a game second in the 440-yard final to Feature Hero. Bon Accord was second to Otoole Hero in a division of the Super Derby time trials, losing by a half-length. Otoole Hero was timed in 19.56 seconds, Bon Accord in 19.68 seconds.

“He may have needed the race,” said Nancy Yearsley, who co-owns Bon Accord with Garvan Kelly.

Remembering Spence won his division of the Super Derby time trials, his fourth consecutive win. Owned by Rose Barboza, Remembering Spence won a time trial and the final of the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February. He did not race again until September, winning the Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap for 3-year-olds.

Remembering Spence was bumped at the start of his Super Derby trial, but closed well to win by 1 1/4 lengths in 19.61 seconds, the second-fastest qualifying time.

“He has these big long strides and he makes it look easy,” Aleman said after the trials.

Trainer Paul Jones has three runners – Scoop of Sunshine, Henoshersecret, and Tres Queens, who was second in a minor stakes earlier this year.

Matabari was trained by Jones at Ruidoso during the summer, where the filly won an optional claimer and was third in a division of the All American Derby trials. She joined trainer Guillermo Morales when she was sent back to California this fall.