Los Alamitos: Far Niente on a solid roll going into Breeders’ Derby

Far Niente will be favored to win his fourth consecutive race in Friday’s $178,500 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association’s Breeders’ Derby at Los Alamitos.

Since returning from a layoff of more than six months in August, Far Niente has won a trial and the final of the Golden State Derby and set the fastest qualifying time for Friday’s PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby with a win in the Sept. 13 time trials.

Trained by Jose Hernandez for Tom Atwood and Vessels Stallion Farm, Far Niente won a division of the 400-yard PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby in 19.60 seconds. He is the only major stakes winner of 2013 of the 10 runners in Friday’s derby.

Far Niente has won seven of 11 starts and earned $245,944. In 2012, Far Niente was third as the favorite in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Friday’s field includes trial race winners Ill Be a Dasher, Splendiferous Diva, and Tres Coronas Mas. Ill Be a Dasher, trained by Ryan Hanson, is unbeaten in four starts this year, including a minor stakes at Les Bois Park in Idaho in June.

Trainer Paul Jones has four finalists: Joy Roses Eagle Sa, Look Whos Running, Significant Heart, and Splendiferous Diva. Joy Roses Eagle Sa, fourth to Far Niente in the Golden State Derby, was second to Splendiferous Diva in the Sept. 13 time trials.

There will be support in the final for Dynasty Red, who was second by a neck to Far Niente in the trials in his first start since June.

“He ran a pretty strong race,” trainer and co-owner Lin Melton said. “I thought he did everything perfect after being” off for two months.

Viva Mi Corazon in Futurity

Viva Mi Corazon is the fastest qualifier for Saturday’s $435,000 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity at Los Alamitos after an impressive trial race win on Sept. 14.

Trained by Trey Wood for Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches, Viva Mi Corazon will start in his first futurity final on Saturday, having previously failed to qualify for the Sam Houston Futurity in Texas and the three major futurities at Ruidoso Downs – the Ruidoso, Rainbow, and All American futurities.

Viva Mi Corazon was timed in 17.33 in the Sept. 14 trials. Jiffy James was the third-fastest qualifier after winning his trial in 17.49 seconds. Trained by Chuck Treece, Jiffy James is unbeaten in two starts since being gelded in June.