Los Alamitos: New Look keeps Aceves for Golden State Derby

LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – When the gelding New Look finished second in a division of the Golden State Derby trials on Aug. 12, trainer Dan Francisco began focusing on Sunday’s $236,400 final at Los Alamitos.

“He ran a good race in the trials,” Francisco said. “He didn’t have the fastest time, but I don’t worry about that.”

New Look was beaten a head by Do You Do Corona in the 400-yard race. He was timed in 19.83 seconds, recording the third-fastest qualifying time for the Grade 1 race.

Francisco was enthused that big-race rider Rodrigo Aceves has kept the mount.

“Rodrigo liked him, and he had his pick,” Francisco said.

Owned by breeder Martha Wells, New Look can win his second derby of 2012 on Sunday. Back in April, New Look won the El Primero Del Ano Derby for colts and geldings over 400 yards. He qualified for the Governor’s Cup Derby on July 28, but was sixth in the field of nine after a poor start.

“We had a lot of trouble in that,” Francisco said.

New Look drew the outside post in Sunday’s Golden State Derby. The post should not be an issue. New Look won a division of the Governor’s Cup Derby from the outside and was second in the Golden State Derby trials from the outside.

Do You Do Corona, who starts in a major final for the first time Sunday, is one of four runners in the Golden State Derby trained by Eloy Navarro and owned by Jose and Gustavo De La Torre. They also run Last to Check Him, La Corona Cartel, and Zoomdasher.

Zoomdasher, a filly, set the fastest qualifying time of 19.73 seconds in the Aug. 12 trials, her first start since a third in the La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old fillies April 6. Zoomdasher, who drew the rail, can win her first stakes in the Golden State Derby.

The richest runner in the field is Last to Fire, a gelding who was third to Zoomdasher in the trials. Trained by Juan Aleman, Last to Fire was third in the Golden State Million and Los Alamitos Two Million futurities last year. The Golden State Derby trial was Last to Fire’s first start of 2012.

Owned by Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas, Last to Fire has won 2 of 8 starts and $514,034.