Terrific First Down getting better and better

Terrific First Down failed to qualify for the two leading futurities at Los Alamitos last fall. This winter, she has shown remarkable improvement, leading to a start in Saturday’s $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby for 3-year-old Quarter Horse fillies.

Terrific First Down finished third against males in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February and won a division of the La Primera Del Ano Derby time trials on March 9.

After the trial race win, trainer Chris O’Dell said Terrific First Down’s campaign last year was interrupted when she suffered an apparent injury to her withers in her stall.

“It takes time to get over that kind of stuff," O'Dell said. "She’s starting to get her confidence back and feel better. We did chiropractic work on her, massages. We spent a lot of time on her.

“It’s good to see our efforts resulting in some nice races from her.”

In the La Primera Del Ano Derby trial, Terrific First Down overcame a bump at the start to win by a length over No Telling. Terrific First Down set the fastest qualifying time in the trials, finishing 400 yards 19.70 seconds.

There are no stakes winners among the 10 finalists. Favorite Wise Lady, trained by O’Dell, and You Caught My Eye were second and third in the Governor’s Cup Futurity last July and each finished fourth in the two divisions of the trials.

You Caught My Eye was beaten 2 1/4 lengths by Terrific First Down. She qualified even though jockey Jesus Ayala lost an iron when the filly hopped at the start.

You Caught My Eye is trained by Mike Casselman, who also starts trial race winner Stel a Gambler. Last October, Stel a Gambler was third in the Autumn Handicap in her stakes debut. In the trials, Stel a Gambler was timed in 19.83 seconds, the second-fastest qualifying time. Stel a Gambler had lost all nine of her starts before the trial win.