Nomadic runs down Kiss Thru Fire to win Southern California Derby

Benefiting from a sharp start, Nomadic caught the filly Kiss Thru Fire in the final strides to win Sunday’s $154,550 Southern California Derby at Los Alamitos, the track’s final major stakes of the year.

Breaking from the outside, Nomadic was away in good order and needed to be to keep pace with 9-2 Kiss Thru Fire, who led by a neck midway through the 400-yard race. Ridden by Oscar Andrade Jr., Nomadic finished a neck in front of Kiss Thru Fire, in 19.67 seconds.

Old School Icon (17-1) finished third, beaten a length in the field of nine.

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Nomadic, a gelding by Favorite Cartel, has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $311,009 for Los Alamitos track owner Ed Allred and trainer Scott Willoughby. Nomadic won the $180,000 Governor’ Cup Derby at Los Alamitos on July 26.

Nomadic failed to qualify for the Los Alamitos Super Derby after a poor start in a division of the time trials on Oct. 17. In trials for the Southern California Derby on Nov. 29, Nomadic reared prior to the start, but recovered to finish second, running quick enough to earn a berth in Sunday’s final.

Willoughby said Nomadic may stay in training in coming weeks for the Brad McKinzie Winter Championship, which is run in February. Trials for that race will be held in January.