Runforyourlife back at best for PCQHRA Breeders Derby

Runforyourlife, the fastest qualifier for Friday’s $140,000 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby at Los Alamitos, has won 6 of 13 starts and earned $600,703. The other nine runners in the PCQHRA Breeders Derby have earned a combined $493,908.

The bulk of Runforyourlife’s earnings came from a victory last November in the $1,038,850 Golden State Million Futurity. At the time, the gelding was in oustanding form. Runforyourlife was later seventh in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in December.

There are indications Runforyourlife is again reaching peak condition. The victory in a division of the time trials for the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby on Sept. 12 was the gelding’s first win in his fourth start of 2020.

Runforyourlife, trained by Chris O’Dell for Connie Rosenthal, ran 400 yards in 19.62 seconds under regular rider Eduardo Nicaso.

“It looked like he did it easy,” O’Dell told Los Alamitos publicity. “Nicasio knows him and I think this horse will be good the rest of the year.”

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Runforyourlife breaks from post 5 in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby, the final race on an eight-race program that begins at 7 p.m. Pacific. Wagering is available through DRFBets.com.

Runforyourlife, a gelding by Favorite Cartel, won the time trial by three-quarters of a length over You Can Run, who is also a gelding by Favorite Cartel. Steve Burns bred Runforyourlife and You Can Run and owns You Can Run, who is trained by his brother-in-law, Mike Casselman.

Half of the 10 runners in the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby are by Favorite Cartel, the nation’s leading stallion by progeny earnings.

You Can Run was third in the $200,018 Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos on Aug. 16, finishing three-quarters of a length behind the highly regarded Circle City.

Runners such as Up for Speed and Just Be Real, second and third in the Governor’s Cup Derby on July 26, and Fire by Night, third in the El Primero Del Ano Derby in March, are capable of top three finishes on Friday.

Up for Speed won the first of two divisions of the PCQHRA Breeders’ Derby trials, but was timed in a relatively slow 20.02 seconds compared to Runforyourlife.

Just Be Real was third behind Runforyourlife in the recent trial. He won the minor Autumn Handicap for 2-year-olds at 350 yards last October. Fire by Night was fifth, beaten only a neck, by Up for Speed in the time trials.