Terrific First Down prevails in La Primera Del Ano Derby

Terrific First Down was third against males in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby in February. Racing against 3-year-old fillies in Saturday’s $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos, Terrific First Down was a comfortable winner.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, Terrific First Down ($4) won the 400-yard race by a length in 19.80 seconds over 8-1 Symbol of Faith. Stel a Gambler (11-1) finished third in the field of nine.

Terrific First Down was the second consecutive winner of the La Primera Del Ano Derby for Jay and Char Parsons, their extended family, and trainer Chris O’Dell. They won the 2018 running with A Political Lady.

Terrific First Down, by Fdd Dynasty, has won 4 of 10 starts and earned $131,049. Last fall, Terrific First Down failed to qualify for two leading futurities at Los Alamitos, but she is having a fine season this year. The recent success comes after a 2-year-old season briefly disrupted when the filly sustained an apparent injury to her withers in her stall, O’Dell said before Saturday’s final.