Mister Apollitical makes 2020 debut in Vessels Maturity trials

Mister Apollitical and Powerful Favorite, who between them won five derbys in 2019, are among 19 runners entered in three time trials for the $157,400 Vessels Maturity on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

The runners with the 10 fastest times in the 400-yard trials, regardless of finishing positions, advance to the final on July 5.

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The Vessels Maturity winner will receive an automatic berth to the $600,000 Champion of Champions on Dec. 12 at Los Alamitos, a race that plays a pivotal role in year-end voting.

Mister Apollitical will have his 2020 debut in Sunday’s ninth and final race, the third time trial. Trained by Terry Knight for Legacy Ranch, Mister Apollitical ended his 2019 campaign with four consecutive wins in the trials and finals of the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby and Southern California Derby, from late September to mid-December.

In the ninth race, Mister Apollitical is part of a field of six that includes Corona Jumpin MRL, who was second in the Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship on Feb. 9.

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Powerful Favorite, trained by Chris O’Dell for Connie Rosenthal, will be favored in the eighth race, his first start since a third-place finish by a neck in the Winter Championship. Last year, Powerful Favorite won the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February, El Primero Del Ano Derby in March, and the Governor’s Cup Derby in August. He was later second in the Los Alamitos Super Derby in November.

Powerful Favorite’s main rival in the eighth race is Jess Macho Corona, who was fourth by a neck in the Winter Championship. Last year, Jess Macho Corona was second by a neck in the All American Derby at Ruidoso Downs.

Paul Jones trains Jess Macho Corona. His stable has a leading chance in the seventh race with Cole Man 47, who won the 2018 PCQHRA Breeders’ Futurity. Cole Man 47 was second in the 2019 Governor’s Cup Derby.

The seventh race favorite should be Chocolatito, who won the $35,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap at 350 yards on May 2 at Los Alamitos and followed with a win in an allowance race at 330 yards on May 24.

Last year, Chocolatito was fifth in the Golden State Derby, second by a nose in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby and fourth in the Southern California Derby. He was hampered by slow starts in some of those races.

First post time for Sunday’s nine-race program is 8:30 p.m. Eastern, or 5:30 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.