Powerful Favorite wins El Primero Del Ano Derby

Despite a slightly tardy start, Powerful Favorite surged to the front in the final 100 yards to win Sunday’s $211,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos and remain in unbeaten in four starts this year.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Powerful Favorite ($3.60) rallied to win the 400-yard race by a neck over 3-1 Apollitical Pence in a field of 10. Red Hawk Cartel (7-1) finished third.

Powerful Favorite, who races for Connie Rosenthal and trainer Chris O’Dell, was timed in 19.73 seconds. The El Primero Del Ano Derby was his second major win of the year, preceded by the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February.

O’Dell said the major derbies at Los Alamitos in the second half of the year will be goal for Powerful Favorite, a gelding who has won 7 of 13 starts and earned $496,835.