Star-Studded Group Nominated for Los Al Derby
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Even with its limited footprint on the Southern California circuit, with racing dates interspersed throughout the year in short meets, Los Alamitos Race Course has done well to attract top talent to its centerpiece races.
Last year, the $500,000 Los Alamitos Derby—the first significant Thoroughbred race since the Cypress, Calif. track expanded its dirt oval to a mile to accommodate Thoroughbred-only meets—drew the likes of Shared Belief along with eventual Breeders' Cup Classic (gr. I) and Dubai World Cup (UAE-I) runner Candy Boy.
SHINAR: Champ Shared Belief Cruises in Los Al Derby
Later in 2014, a small field for the $500,000 Los Alamitos Futurity (gr. I) brought eventual Kentucky Derby Presented by Yum! Brands (gr. I) participants Dortmund, Firing Line, and Mr. Z.
Now Los Alamitos appears to be ready to make another splash.
Among 42 nominated for this year's Los Alamitos Derby July 4, which now features a purse of $350,000, is Zayat Stables' Triple Crown hopeful American Pharoah, along with fellow Kentucky Derby and Xpressbet.com Preakness (gr. I) rivals Firing Line, Dortmund, and Mr. Z, who were a head apart in last year's Futurity.
SHINAR: Dortmund Wins Dramatic Los Alamitos Futurity
Sentient Jet Breeders' Cup Juvenile (gr. I) winner Texas Red, Kentucky Derby runner and grade III winner Ocho Ocho Ocho, and lightly-raced but formidable Lazaro Barrera (gr. III) winner Kentuckian, out of the Jerry Hollendorfer barn, are also nominated.
BALAN: Kentuckian Romps in Lazaro Barrera Victory
"We're obviously thrilled with the group," said Brad McKinzie, the general manager of Los Alamitos' Thoroughbred racing. "It's doubtful we'll see American Pharoah, but even without him, it's a hell of a group of horses."
The nominations fit into Los Alamitos' plan to make the race a grade I event, something McKinzie feels is much-needed on the post-Triple Crown racing schedule in Southern California.
"With Shared Belief last year and the group this year, we hope to get to (grade I)," McKinzie said. "We've always thought a major Derby was needed after the Triple Crown. It's been frustrating to me and I think it should be frustrating to others in California, that so many of our best horses have to go East for races like the Haskell (Invitational, gr. I) or Travers (Stakes, gr. I).
"We're happy, because we felt there was a need, and it's been supported by the nominations."