Trainer Flores has four runners in Ed Burke Million Futurity
It’s an enviable position, to say the least.
Quarter Horse trainer Jose Flores has four of the 10 runners in Sunday’s $1.12 million Ed Burke Million Futurity at Los Alamitos – the undefeated geldings Black Coffeee and Chizum, the unbeaten colt Eye On the Sky, and the filly Sweet Dasha Fire, a full-sister to 2015 Quarter Horse World Champion Heza Dasha Fire.
“It’s good to have all these chances,” Flores said on Friday. “We have some good stock this year. There are some years I want to cry.”
Despite starting the quartet, Flores may not have the favorite. There will be widespread support for Golden Boi, the fastest qualifier from 12 time trials at 350 yards on May 30. Trained by Valentin Zamudio, Golden Boi won the seventh division of the trials in 17.62 seconds.
Black Coffeee was the second-fastest qualifier, winning the first trial in 17.64 seconds. Black Coffeee drew post 2 for Sunday’s final, one position to the inside of Eye On the Sky. Flores hoped they would draw gates farther outside, similar to Sweet Dasha Fire and Chizum, who will start in posts 7 and 9.
Chizum won the second time trial in 17.75 seconds as the 9-5 favorite, overcoming a bump at the start. Owned by Ricardo Ramirez, Chizum is unbeaten in two starts, having won a maiden special weight race at 300 yards on April 16. In between the maiden race and the time trials, Chizum worked 220 yards in 12.1 seconds from the gate on May 8, a workout that left Flores encouraged.
The trainer’s outlook was unchanged after the trial race win.
“The first race he ran really green,” Flores said. “He’s fast out of there. He’s about 16 hands and can work 12.1 in the morning. That’s a big, big plus. That and he gets into stride right away.”
Jockey Cruz Mendez won trial races on Black Coffeee, Chizum, and Eye On the Sky and will ride Eye On the Sky on Sunday. Ricky Ramirez will ride Chizum for the first time.
Trainer Monty Arrossa has three qualifiers – trial race winners Hallelujah Nights and In Hott Pursuit and trial race runner-up Motiveighted, who was beaten by Golden Boi.
In Hott Pursuit has excellent credentials, having won the fifth trial by two lengths in 17.66 seconds to remain unbeaten in two starts.
Flores and Arrossa have won the last two runnings of the Ed Burke Million Futurity. Flores also won the race in 2014 with Heza Dasha Fire.