Los Alamitos: Stablemates top trials for Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity

CYPRESS, Calif. – The stablemates Viva Mi Corazon and Ms First Prize Rose were already major stakes winners when they won divisions of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity trials last Sunday at Los Alamitos.

There is a very good chance one of them is going to end the year as a multiple stakes winner for Texas owners Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches and trainer Trey Wood.

Viva Mi Corazon, winner of the $425,000 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Futurity on Oct.5, won the seventh of 14 400-yard time trials in 19.51 seconds to establish the fastest qualifying time for the Dec. 15 final.

Ms First Prize Rose, unraced since winning the $1 million Rainbow Futurity at Ruidoso Downs on July 21, won the second division of the trials in 19.54 seconds, holding the role of fastest qualifier until Viva Mi Corazon’s victory.

Had they met in the same race and produced the same times, the margin between them would have been about a short neck.

Ms First Prize Rose was not a confirmed runner for the Los Alamitos Two Million trials until earlier this month. She emerged from the Rainbow Futurity with a grabbed quarter that was severe enough that trainer Blane Wood feared she would miss the All American Futurity trials in August. Ms First Prize Rose skipped the All American and was sent to Blane Wood’s son, Trey, who runs the family’s California stable.

Trey Wood said Sunday that Ms First Prize Rose’s condition improved through the fall. In her trial, she led throughout, winning by three-quarters of a length over Sis Is Hot, who qualified for the final.

“It couldn’t have gone any better,” Wood said. “She got away pretty good. I was super happy with the filly.”

Viva Mi Corazon was more impressive. He stormed out of the gate to lead by 1 1/4 lengths after 100 yards and won by 1 1/2 lengths over Chalalita, another finalist. Highest Fire, who finished third, also qualified.

The other qualifiers are Dash Through Fire, Foose Cash Sr, Five Bar Cartel, A Corona Sunset, and Collin the Shots. Five Bar Cartel won the Ed Burke Million Futurity at Los Alamitos in June, but will need to be quicker than his qualifying time of 19.74 to beat Ms First Prize Rose or Viva Mi Corazon.