Los Alamitos: Bargain buy Fall For It can return big dividends in La Primera Del Ano Derby

Owner Brian Hyde paid more to supplement his filly Fall For It to the trials for Saturday’s $182,700 La Primera Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos than he did to claim her last summer.

Hyde, of Blackfoot, Idaho, claimed Fall For It for $6,250 last July. He paid $9,200 to supplement her in December to the La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies.

So far, everything about Fall For It has been a bargain. Hyde, and trainer Jim Hanson, of Pocatello, Idaho, were rewarded when Fall For It set the fastest qualifying time for the final in time trials on March 19.

If Fall For It wins the 400-yard La Primera Del Ano Derby, Hyde will receive the winner’s share of $76,734, which will make the claiming price, and even the supplemental nomination fee, seem cheap.

Hanson, for one, expects a big result on Saturday evening.

“She’s doing better now than she ever has,” said Hanson, 49. “She’s never felt this good. She just needs a lucky break. When she steps on the track, she’s like a whole other horse. You’re thinking, ‘easy, girl.’ ”

Fall For It will be a strong favorite on Saturday, attempting to win her fourth consecutive race.

Since last July, Fall For It has improved with each start, finishing second by a nose to Ed Burke Million winner First Down Illusion in a division of the California Freshman Stakes last July and winning two late-season minor handicaps for 2-year-olds – the Chickasis Handicap in September and Autumn Handicap in October.

“We got lucky when we claimed her,” Hanson said.

Fall For It’s appearance in the La Primera Del Ano Derby trials is her only start of 2011. She ran 400 yards in 19.43 seconds, winning by 1 1/4 lengths. A winner of 4 of 8 starts and $35,222, Fall For It made her first start over 400 yards in the trials, having raced over 300 and 350 yards in 2010.

Fall For It does not face a strong field in the La Primera Del Ano Derby. Of the 10 finalists, only one is stakes-placed, Getit Together, who was third in the Wild West Futurity last fall and third behind Fall For It in a division of the trials. Jess Walk, eighth in the $138,300 Maiden Stakes in February, finished fourth behind Fall For It in the trials. She is one of four finalists trained by Adan Farias.

◗ The final for the El Primero Del Ano Derby for 3-year colts and gelding will be run on Sunday, having been moved from Friday. Earlier this year, track officials said that some stakes originally scheduled for Fridays would be shifted to Sundays, an evening that has attracted higher handle.