Runnning Brook Gal taking spotlight

Runnning Brook Gal, the winner of the 2009 All American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs, makes her Los Alamitos debut in a division of the Los Alamitos Super Derby trials on Sunday evening, a race that trainer Paul Jones admits has left him “a little concerned.”

“It’s kind of tough to run here under the lights for the first time,” Jones said. “It’s her first out on this racetrack. and I wanted to get an out into her. I’m hoping she runs a big race and qualifies.”

There is a lot at stake. The 10 fastest times from the four 400-yard trials, regardless of finishing positions, earn berths to the $1 million-estimated final on Nov. 6.

Owned by Chad Richard, Runnning Brook Gal is the richest entrant in the four trials, with 6 wins in 11 starts and earnings of $1,321,463. She was the overall champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old filly of 2009, but is winless in two starts this year, a second-place in an optional claimer and a fifth in a division of the All American Derby trials in August.

“She had some issues going on, and she wasn’t quite right and wasn’t herself,” Jones said of the filly’s summer form. “She’s better now. She had a physical condition, but she’s in tip-top shape.”

Runnning Brook Gal starts in the seventh race, the second of the four trial divisions. She must beat the Jones-trained First Down King, who was third in the Governor’s Cup Derby earlier this year.

The sixth race, the first division, is led by Fabulous Fifties, who was third in the El Primero Del Ano Derby in April, his most recent start.

The eighth race features Apollitical Jess, who was second in the All American Derby on Sept. 5, losing by a neck to Double Down Special. The Jones-trained Favorite Cartel, who was sixth in the All American Derby, and Divide the Cash, fourth in the Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos in August, also start.

In the ninth race, Princelike and Runaway Tyme, second and sixth in the Golden State Derby, face a field that includes Making Fire, who was third in the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Breeders’ Association Derby on Oct. 1, and Tools of Fire, who was sixth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last December.