Powerful Favorite on a roll entering El Primero Del Ano Derby

His trainer describes him as a super horse. The recent race record supports the opinion.

Powerful Favorite is undefeated in three starts this year, including the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February, and will start favored in Sunday’s $211,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby for colts and geldings at Los Alamitos.

Trained by Chris O’Dell for Connie Rosenthal, Powerful Favorite overcame a stumble at the start of the El Primero Del Ano Derby trials on March 10 to win the 400-yard race in 19.63 seconds, setting the fastest qualifying time.

The gelding has won 6 of 12 starts and earned $408,215.

“He’s starting to really get my attention and amaze me,” O’Dell said told Los Alamitos publicity. “He’s overcoming little trouble points, whether it’s getting out of the gate or getting bumped.

“That’s what makes a true racehorse. It’s hard to describe him. He’s just turned into a super horse.”

Powerful Favorite, who will be ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, will need another top-flight effort to win the El Primero Del Ano Derby.

The race has drawn a deep field, with several runners that performed well in leading futurities last year.

In the El Primero time trial, Powerful Favorite edged Apollitical Pence, who was third in the Golden State Million Futurity in November and fifth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December. Ali Babe Foose, second in the Two Million Futurity, was third in the trial. Trained by Jaime Gomez, Ali Babe Foose has won 4 of 11 starts and earned $409,363.

Red Hawk Cartel won the first of four trials on March 10 in 19.68 seconds for trainer Matt Fales. Red Hawk Cartel was fifth in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Futurity last October and second in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby.

Dexxter, who was timed in 19.79 seconds, and Teller Hez Famous, who was timed in 19.83 seconds, were the other trial race winners.