09/12/2021..LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA…. Felix Gonzalez was proved right in his decision to not run fastest qualifier El Tio Angel in the $55,500 Los Alamitos Claiming Futurity on August 22. In doing so, Gonzalez passed on a chance to win up $26,085 while an additional $12,500 if El Tio Angel was claimed out of that race. For Gonzalez, his colt by Boss Man Blue was too special to risk losing him this early in his racing career.
“It would have hurt me if they would have claimed him in that stakes final,” Gonzalez said. “I would have had that thorn on my side for a long time. To find a horse that ran like the way he ran in his Claiming Futurity trial is not easy, so why give him away and be left feeling the way I was going feel. Maybe he doesn’t run great again, but I would have still had that thorn.”
El Tio Angel justified Gonzalez’s belief in him on Sunday night when he posted the fastest qualifying time to the $375,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Henry Reynoso Lopez, the Alejandro Sanchez-bred runner won the third of six trials by a head while covering the 350 yards in :17.737. Instead of risking losing him for a $12,500 claiming tag, Gonzalez can now dream of his horse El Tio Angel winning a Grade 2 futurity and a share of very significant purse.
“I am thrilled with his performance but the fact that he’s still in my barn and I still get to pet him, hug him, and train him, that means a lot to me,” Gonzalez said.
Led by El Tio Angel, the horses with the 10 fastest times on Sunday’s trials advanced to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity final to be held on Sunday, October 3. The final is held during the Los Alamitos Equine Sale weekend.
Five Livestock Company and Steve Wright’s Favorite Honey posted the second fastest qualifying time after winning the final trial of the night by 1 ½ lengths in a time of :17.762. Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Favorite Honey is a gelding by Favorite Cartel and out of the mare Corona Fast Honey. Bred by Silver Racing Farm LLC, Favorite Honey is a half-brother to Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity winner Fire Fast Honey.
Owned and bred by Bruce and Jill Thompson, Dynamic Jess was a total dynamo in winning the fourth trial by 1 ¾ lengths and in the third fastest time of :17.779. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, who remains one win away from tying the track record at Los Alamitos of 153 stakes wins, Dynamic Jess was picking up his second victory in five starts. The Juan Aleman-trainee will be making his stakes racing debut in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity. Dynamic Jess is by Apollitical Jess and out of 2016 Governor’s Cup Derby finalist Fervents Dynasty.
The other trial winners to advance to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity final are Dasha Good Reason, who is a perfect three for three in futurity trials and was the fastest qualifier to the John Deere California Juvenile; Precysion, a $67,000 yearling purchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale who has improved with each passing start; and World Famous Mia, who broke her maiden while winning her trial by a length.
The complete list of qualifiers to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity is as follows: El Tio Angel (:17.727), Favorite Honey :17.762, Dynamic Jess (;17.779), Corona Yo (:17.792), World Famous Mia (:17.783), Favorite First Down (:17.789), Precysion (:17.792), Dasha Good Reason (:17.866), FG Jess Seis (:17.919), and Woman Secrets (:17.940).
