Los Alamitos: PCQHRA Futurity comes up strong
The Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Futurity is not one of the leading races for 2-year-olds at Los Alamitos, overshadowed by nationally prominent races in June, November and December.
This year is an exception.
On Sunday, the $265,000 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity has drawn a stronger-than-normal field that includes Double Down 123, the winner of the Kindergarten Futurity in May, and Political Rivalry, who won the Ed Burke Million Futurity in June.
Double Down 123 and Political Rivalry are two of the leading contenders, but neither had the fastest qualifying time from five trials at 350 yards on Sept. 10.
Cowgirl Upp won for the second time in three starts in the trials to set the fastest time of 17.70 seconds. The PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity will be the filly’s stakes debut for trainer Cesar DeAlba and owner Kolleen Ledgerwood.
Political Rivalry may be favored over Double Down 123 and Cowgirl Upp, although there may not be much separating them.
Double Down 123, trained by Monty Arrossa, won her fourth consecutive race in the trials, finishing in 17.72 seconds. She won by a head over stablemate Southern Divine, who also qualified for the final. They start from posts 3 and 4 in a field of nine.
Political Rivalry, a trial race winner in 17.88 seconds, will start from the outside post for trainer Heath Taylor. The PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity trial was Political Rivalry’s first start since a win in the Ed Burke. He finished a neck in front of Mv Royal Pappasito and Talk Bout Somethin, who dead-heated for second and earned berths in the final.
The field does not include Warrior Soul, who finished third to Double Down 123 in the trials but was placed on the veterinarian’s list after the race.
You See That, winner of the Governor’s Cup Futurity in July, finished fourth behind Double Down 123 in the trials with a time quick enough to qualify for the final, but was disqualified and placed last for causing interference.
The disqualification negated You See That’s status as a qualifier for the PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity, and allowed the outsider Send in a Favor to join the field.
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