Maiden races could produce starters for Governor's Cup Futurity trials

Two maiden special weight races for 2-year-olds at 300 yards on Friday’s eight-race program could produce runners for the Governor’s Cup Futurity, which has time trials July 11 and a final July 25.

The sixth race, for fillies, has a field of seven – five with race experience and two first-time starters. There is even a winner in the race. Royal Flash Favorite finished first in a similar race May 9, but was disqualified and placed third for causing interference.

While Friday’s race will be Royal Flash Favorite’s fourth start since mid-April, she has drawn well in the outside post for trainer Chris O’Dell. Royal Flash Favorite has had difficulty at the gate, however. She was away slowly in two starts in April, leading to sixth- and fifth-place finishes.

The sixth race will be the third start for My Favorite Ocean, who was second in a division of the Kindergarten Futurity trials May 3, but did not qualify for the May 17 final. My Favorite Ocean is trained by Jaime Gomez, who won the Kindergarten with La Jaconde.

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The first-time starter Registrant is certain to attract support. Trained by Scott Willoughby for Los Alamitos track owner Ed Allred, Registrant worked 220 yards from the gate in 12.3 seconds on May 9, the fifth-fastest of 20 works at the distance.

Registrant is a full brother to Tustin Kid, who won the minor California Breeders’ Freshman Stakes at Los Alamitos in 2017.

The eight-race program begins at 9 p.m. Eastern. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

The program begins with four sprints at 4 1/2 furlongs and 1,000 yards that comprise the $1 early pick four, the track’s most popular bet. The two maiden races are part of the $1 late pick four that begins in the fifth race.

The eighth race has a field of seven, including the first-time starters Bar Fighten and Lotta Blue Chrome, who have adjacent post positions.

Lotta Blue Chrome, trained by Valentin Zamudio, has worked 12.3 seconds from the gate twice – on March 18 and April 30. A colt, Lotta Blue Chrome was purchased for $26,000 at the 2019 Los Alamitos equine sale last October.

Max Prize, who drew the outside post, has come the closest to winning, finishing second by a head in a division of the Kindergarten Futurity trials when trained by Jorge Farias. Max Prize has since been transferred to Oscar Heredia.