Rite Regal survives inquiry to win El Primero Del Ano Derby

CYPRESS, Calif. – Rite Regal won his first stakes in Sunday’s $210,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse colts and geldings at Los Alamitos and then survived a six-minute inquiry to retain the win.

Rite Regal started from the outside in a field of 10 and drifted to the inside while leading in the final 100 yards. Stewards reviewed video of the incident and determined that Rite Regal did not interfere with his rivals.

Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, Rite Regal ($11.20) ran 400 yards in 19.77 seconds, finishing a head in front of 3-1 My Favorite Check. We Like Corona, a 5-1 shot, finished third. Jose Antonio Flores trains Rite Regal and We Like Corona.

Rite Regal, a gelding by Favorite Cartel, has won 5 of 9 starts and earned $120,581 for Jolene Urschel. Rite Regal was sixth in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February, the first major stakes appearance of his career.