A Preview of the Golden State Derby Trials on August 16

Trials to the second richest running of the Golden State Derby since 1989 has attracted 22 outstanding sophomores headed by Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity winner One Famous Eagle and millionaire Eye For Corona to compete in Saturday's 400-yard heats. The purse for this year's Golden State Derby final is $313,900. The final will be held at Los Alamitos on Saturday, August 30. Among the 22 derby hopefuls, eight have earned $100,000 or more, while 15 sprinters that competed in at least one Grade 1 or Restricted Grade 1 event. Owned by Burnett Ranches and Johnny Trotter, the son of Mr Jess Perry dominated the "Deuce". He posted the fastest qualifying time to the nation's only guaranteed $2 million Quarter Horse futurity and then rallied to win the final by a head. He returned with a decisive 1 1/4-length victory in an allowance race last month and now looks primed to enjoy a solid sophomore campaign for trainer John Bassett. One Famous Eagle will be in action in the ninth race, which also serves as the second of three derby trials. He'll be facing strong opposition in the shape of Ed Allred's super talented My Buddie, the third place finisher in the (RG1) Governor's Cup Derby and Allred and T.J. Simers' Kiddy Up. The field will also feature Magic Show Czech, a winner of more than $500,000, and Ought To Be Rapid, who finished first and second in last year's (RG1) Governor's Cup Futurity.

The first trial (race #8 on the card) offers another outstanding mix of superstars. A Mere Chocolate, Dreaming Sweet, and Really A First, respectively, the winners of this year's Los Alamitos Winter, El Primero Del Ano, and Governor's Cup derbies, will headline the field, which will also feature Eye For Corona's first outing of the year. Racing for champion owners Keilani Farms, Eye For Corona won the Golden State Million Futurity and was second in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity last year. Stakes winners Daddy Dasher and Fighter On Fire will headline the third and final trial (race #10).

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