Sass Me Blue takes on derby winners in Southern California Derby

CYPRESS, Calif. – Bac in Front and Forget It have each won two derbies at Los Alamitos this year. They have one more chance for a third such win in a competitive running of the $134,150 Southern California Derby on Sunday.

Even with such lofty credentials, Bac in Front or Forget It might not be favored, a role that could go to Sass Me Blue, the fastest qualifier. Trained by Mike Casselman, Sass Me Blue has kept excellent company since her 2015 debut in August. She was third in the Golden State Derby in August and second in the Los Alamitos Super Derby in October, losing both races to Heza Dasha Fire.

On Dec. 12, Heza Dasha Fire won the track’s most prestigious race for older horses, the $600,000 Champion of Champions, to stake a claim as the World Champion Running Quarter Horse.

Sass Me Blue, owned by Lucky Seven Ranch, won a division of the 400-yard Southern California Derby trials in 19.94 seconds on Nov. 29. Forget It was third in that race as the 4-5 favorite, the gelding’s first start since a third in the Super Derby. Earlier this year, Forget It won the El Primero Del Ano Derby in April and the Governor’s Cup Derby in July.

Jaime Gomez trains Forget It and Bac in Front, a filly who won the La Primera Del Ano Derby in April and the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Breeders’ Derby in October. Bac in Front was third in her trial race Nov. 29, losing to Jess Cuz, a filly who was second in the Golden State Derby.

With Bac in Front and Forget It having lost their last starts and Sass Me Blue and Jess Cuz coming off wins, the Southern California Derby will lack a heavy favorite.

There were three trial races Nov. 29. Weownthenite, one of six fillies in the Southern California Derby, won her third consecutive race in the last trial race. Weownthenite will make her stakes debut in the Southern California Derby.

The Southern California Derby is the featured race on the last night of the track’s yearlong meeting. The 2016-17 meeting opens Dec. 26.