Wicked Affair, Sc Money Maker meet again in Ed Burke Million Futurity

Wicked Affair had a perfect trip to win her stakes debut in the Kindergarten Futurity on May 20 at Los Alamitos. Sc Money Maker was jostled twice through the 300-yard race and finished fifth.

They meet for the second time in Sunday’s $1,060,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity at 350 yards at Los Alamitos and approach the race in peak form. Sc Money Maker and Wicked Affair won trial races for the Burke on June 10 and set the two fastest qualifying times.

Sc Money Maker, trained by Mike Robbins for Gary McKinney’s Reliance Ranches, was timed in 17.45 seconds in the 350-yard time trials, winning by a half-length over Powerful Favorite, who qualified for the final.

Wicked Affair, trained by Terry Knight for Pete Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, was timed in 17.50 seconds and won a division of the trials by 2 1/4 lengths. The filly was the only qualifier from her trial race.

“I just think she’s something special,” Parrella told Los Alamitos publicity after the trial-race win. “This may have been her best race.”

Wicked Affair is the most experienced runner in the Burke field, with three wins in four starts and earnings of $142,541.

For the final, Wicked Affair is well drawn on the outside in the field of 10 and is one of three fillies in the race, along with Striver and Wave Her Down.

Striver, second in the Kindergarten, was only third in a time trial for the Burke behind Dexxter and Jess Macho Corona. Dexxter, a gelding, is unbeaten in two starts, as is Wave Her Down. They won maiden races in late April and early May in advance of the Burke trials.

Legacy also starts Mister Appolitical, who won a division of the trials in the relatively slow time of 17.72 seconds and must show considerable improvement from the rail to play any factor Sunday.

The Burke is the first of three seven-figure futurities at Los Alamitos this year, followed by the Golden State Million in November and the Los Alamitos Two Million in December.