Willie Gotta Pie, 'Jabonerita' go at it again

Willie Gotta Pie and Jabonerita Chicks, who finished a head apart while running one-two in the Madeira Beach Handicap on Feb. 20, will meet again in the $26,600 La Pacifica Handicap for 3-year-old fillies over 350 yards Friday night at Los Alamitos.

Sent off at 23-1 in the Madeira Beach, a 300-yard stakes, Willie Gotta Pie used a late run to win, and he could enjoy the extra 50 yards of the La Pacifica.

Jabonerita Chicks, a 10-1 price in the Madeira Beach, figures to improve in the La Pacifica if she gets a clean start. She had a rough start in the Madeira Beach, but still managed to get to the front before losing by a head.

Get Solid hopes to build on trial

Juarez Handicap winner Get Solid looks to rebound from a second-place trial finish when he runs Sunday in the Grade 3, $62,100 MD Barns New Mexico Distance Challenge at Sunland Park.

Get Solid has proven he can win 870-yard stakes, as he did in the Grade 3 Governor's Cup Handicap at Sam Houston Race Park on Aug. 30. He then finished second to multiple stakes winner Available Credit in the Pat Hyland Handicap at Los Alamitos, won the Lone Star Park Distance Championship, and won the Juarez Handicap at Sunland Park on Jan. 11 over 2003 co-champion distance horse Sterling Sport.

On March 5, in the third of three trials to the New Mexico Distance Championship, Get Solid finished a neck behind AB Bully. Get Solid was timed in 45.293 seconds for the 870 yards, the third-fastest qualifying slot.

AB Bully topped the qualifiers with the win in 45.266 seconds. A 4-year-old, AB Bully had only one win from 15 starts at 2 and 3, but has found productive form this year, with two wins and a second from three starts.

Sterling Sport, winner of the 2003 Grade 1, $100,000 John Deere Distance Championship, was second to Get Solid in the Juarez. Sterling Sport qualified for Sunday's finals by finishing second in his New Mexico Distance Championship trial.

'Beautiful' heads Longhorn

Beautiful Bunny Buds started her career in promising fashion by leading the qualifiers to the Grade 2, $198,240 Longhorn Futurity at Manor Downs on Saturday.

Beautiful Bunny Buds, owned and trained by Terry Luera, won her 300-yard trial March 6 by one length, in 15.670 seconds.

Six Persimmons, the second fastest qualifier, scored a 1 1/4-length victory in the sixth of 13 trials and should be a strong factor in the finals.

Reed set for Blue Ribbon Futurity

Trainer Rodney Reed, winner of eight of the last 14 runnings of the Blue Ribbon Futurity, is well-positioned with five of the 10 runners in the Grade 2, $144,923 event on Sunday afternoon.

Leading the Reed-trained runners are Endaleabull, Jess a Feature, and Sunday Zoom, the three fastest qualifiers from 10 trials March 6.

Endaleabull won her career debut in the trials by a half-length in 17.170 seconds for the 330 yards, defeating fourth-fastest qualifier Agony of Defeet. Jess a Feature and Sunday Zoom also won their first starts in the trials.

The other Reed qualifiers are Phoebes Otoole and Eyesa Rare Rabbit.