A Political Lady streaking into La Primera Del Ano Derby

There is much to like about A Political Lady’s winter and early-spring campaign in advance of Friday’s $183,800 La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies at Los Alamitos.

A Political Lady has won her last three starts – the consolation of the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December, an allowance race in February, and a division of the La Primera Del Ano Derby trials on March 10.

In the trials, A Political Lady was timed in 19.80 seconds for 400 yards, setting the second-fastest qualifying time for Friday’s final. Terrific Temptation is the fastest qualifier after winning a division of the trials in 19.78 seconds but has not shown the same consistency as A Political Lady.

The two fillies are drawn alongside each other in posts 8 and 9 for the La Primera Del Ano Derby, the eighth and final race on Friday evening’s program. They are both owned by the Parsons family and trained by Christopher O’Dell.

The La Primera Del Ano Derby will be A Political Lady’s first appearance in a major stakes final since a third in the Golden State Million Futurity last November. By Apollitical Jess, A Political Lady has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $144,257.

Terrific Temptation, by Tempting Dash, has won 4 of 10 starts but only $18,930. This will be her first major stakes appearance. Last June, Terrific Temptation was eighth in the consolation race for the Ed Burke Million Futurity.

Of the other eight runners, Moonie Blues has the most stakes experience – and the worst recent racing luck. Trained by Jaime Gomez, Moonie Blues was third behind Terrific Temptation in the time trials after she was bumped at the break and raced in traffic midway through the race.

Moonie Blues was second in the Golden State Million last November and third in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February. She has won 5 of 11 starts and earned $383,323. Even though Moonie Blues is winless in four starts since a division of the Golden State Million trials last October, she could go favored in the La Primera.