Moonist earns vacation with victory in El Primero Del Ano Derby

CYPRESS, Calif. – Last weekend was a memorable one for septuagenarian trainers based at Los Alamitos.

On April 5, Art Sherman, 77, sent California Chrome across town and watched the colt win his fourth consecutive stakes in the $1 million Santa Anita Derby. On Sunday, Quarter Horse trainer John Cooper, 76, won the $202,100 El Primero Del Ano Derby for 3-year-olds over 400 yards at Los Alamitos for the third time in his career with Moonist.

California Chrome will train at Los Alamitos in advance of the Kentucky Derby at Churchill Downs on May 3.

Moonist, meanwhile, has earned a vacation, Cooper said Tuesday.

“He’s growing like a weed,” Cooper said. “A little time off won’t hurt him.”

Moonist has won 7 of 14 starts and earned $207,804 for owner Ron Hartley of Canyon Lake, Calif. The El Primero Del Ano Derby was Moonist’s fourth start of 2014. Last year, Moonist’s best race was a win in the Los Alamitos Juvenile, the consolation to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December.

What helps Hartley and Cooper decide to rest Moonist is the absence of a major derby at Los Alamitos until the Governor’s Cup Derby trials July 13. The final is July 26. Following that race, the schedule intensifies with the Golden State Derby in August, the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Derby in early October, the Los Alamitos Super Derby in November, and the Southern California Derby in December.

Moonist will not run in all of those races but is likely to be a factor in some of those stakes.

“There are only so many good races in a horse,” Cooper said.

Moonist ran a career-best race in the El Primero Del Ano Derby. Sent off favored, he led throughout to win by a half-length in 19.53 seconds.

“He’s a good horse to train,” Cooper said. “He’s starting to put it all together.”

Fiesty Flo, the winner of the $223,800 La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies April 5, is likely to have a similar schedule. Trainer Jose Antonio Flores said after the race that derbies in the second half of the year will be emphasized.

◗ Trainer Guillermo Morales has been suspended 60 days for two medication violations found in Tr Specialty, the winner of the second race Dec. 1.

Morales was cited after post-race tests showed positives for the antihistamines cetirizine and hydroxyzine. Tr Specialty was disqualified and placed last in the field of six.

Morales was fined $5,000. The suspension began Monday and continues through June 5.