Surprising FDD Dynasty perfect going into futurity

Trainer Mike Joiner admits to being surprised that the colt FDD Dynasty is a leading contender for Saturday's $1,142,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Getting this far seemed remote during the spring, when FDD Dynasty was training for his debut.

"So far, he's been one of those colts that shows up on race night," Joiner said. "Before his first race, he wasn't a great work horse. He looked nice and fairly talented, but it seems like every race he's gotten better and better."

Unbeaten in two starts, FDD Dynasty starts from the rail in the 350-yard Burke, the first of three seven-figure futurities at Los Alamitos this year. The Golden State Million in November and the Los Alamitos Million in December are the other two.

FDD Dynasty had the second-fastest qualifying time in the June 10 time trials for the Burke, winning the first of 15 divisions in the quick time of 17.29 seconds. Blues Girl Too, one of four fillies to qualify for the Burke, had the fastest qualifying time of 17.24 seconds, just .02 slower than Corona Chick's 1991 track record.

FDD Dynasty and Blues Girls Too emerged from the most productive trials, the first two races of the trial night.

The second- and third-place finishers in those races also qualified - First Down Morn and Corona, who finished behind FDD Dynasty, and No Secrets Here and Tac It Like a Man, who were second and third behind Blues Girl Too.

"Going into the trial, we would have been happy with a close second, thinking that would get us in," Joiner said. "There were two other really good horses in there."

Blues Girl Too is unbeaten in two starts, having begun her career with a win in a maiden race on May 19. Joe Bassett trains Blues Girls Too for owner-breeders Lucky Seven Ranch.

The other finalists are The One I Am, Ten Oclock Scholar, El Arizona Kid, and Corona Deluxe.

Of the finalists, Only Corona Deluxe has stakes experience, having finished third in the Kindergarten Futurity on May 20, the first stakes for the division in California this year. Corona Deluxe, a filly, is trained by Paul Jones for Dan Lucas. The Ed Burke Million is her fifth start. She won her division of the trials, but has the slowest qualifying time of 17.54 seconds.

"I'm not sure I could name one that you have to beat," Joiner said. "There are five or six that are going to exceptionally tough."