Lovingier's willingness to supplement pair key to making Los Alamitos Derby go

Earlier this week, Terry Lovingier, the prominent California owner and breeder, was contacted by Los Alamitos officials to gauge his interest in entering a horse in Saturday’s $100,000 Los Alamitos Derby.

Lovingier supplemented Fionello and Southern Melodee at a cost of $4,000 each. There are only five entrants in the dirt race at 1 1/8 miles, which very nearly was not carded without Lovingier’s supplements and a supplemental entry from the longshot Fuego Del Sol.

“We thought we might as well run them,” Lovingier said of his California-bred geldings.

The race is led by the Start the Ride, a stakes winner against Cal-breds in January for trainer Dan Blacker, and the maiden Sabino Canyon, who is trained by Bob Baffert. Baffert has won the last nine runnings of the Los Alamitos Derby.

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A win by Fionello or Southern Melodee would constitute an upset, but it's a chance Lovingier is willing to take. Lovingier bred Fionello and Southern Melodee, and he owns them with partners.

Lovingier operates Lovacres Ranch in Warner Springs, Calif., which stands Stay Thirsty, annually one of the leading stallions in the state. Fionello is by Stay Thirsty.

Fionello, trained by Steve Knapp, won the Echo Eddie Stakes for Cal-bred 3-year-olds at 6 1/2 furlongs at Santa Anita on April 4 in an 18-1 upset, but was eighth of 10 in the Snow Chief Stakes at 1 1/8 miles on turf at Santa Anita on May 23.

“I don’t know that he’s a turf horse,” Lovingier said. “We took a shot.”

The Los Alamitos Derby is Southern Melodee’s third start in a stakes. Trained by Craig Dollase, Southern Melodee was eighth in the Golden State Juvenile at seven furlongs last October and fifth in the Echo Eddie.

Prior to the Echo Eddie, Southern Melodee won an allowance for statebred 3-year-olds at a mile at Santa Anita in March. Southern Melodee is winless in three subsequent starts, including his only start on turf in May and a fifth-place finish in an allowance at 5 1/2 furlongs on June 7.

The Los Alamitos Derby should be more to Southern Melodee’s strength, Lovingier said.

“He hasn’t been able to get in a mile dirt race,” he said. “I think he’s built more to do to this. I think he’ll make a better showing than he has in the past.”

Regardless of the outcome of the Los Alamitos Derby, Lovingier has Del Mar plans for Fionello and Southern Melodee in the $150,000 Fleet Treat Stakes for statebred 3-year-olds at seven furlongs on July 24.

“The timing is very good,” Lovingier said.

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