07/09/17..LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA. – Owned and bred by J. Francisco Diaz and trained by his son, Lindolfo Diaz, One Sweet Runner posted the fastest qualifying time to the $203,000 Governor’s Cup Derby after winning the second of three trials contested on Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Twenty-four runners competed in the 400-yard trials with the 10 horses with the fastest times returning for the Governor’s Cup Derby final on California Breeders Champions Night on July 29. Making her eighth career start and second this year, One Sweet Runner was sharp from the word go. The One Sweet Jess filly broke on the lead and remained there every step on the way to covering the 400-yards in a time of :19.839. Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala, One Sweet Runner picked up her fourth lifetime win. She entered the trials after running second to the stakes winner Zendaya in an allowance event on June 16.
One Sweet Runner’s mother is the unraced Check Him Out mare Check Her Running, a full sister to 2006 Governor’s Cup Futurity winner Checknbac. One Sweet Runner’s granddam is Running Bac, a mare that gave Diaz his biggest win as an owner when she took the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap in 2002. Running Bac has been a fine producer, as she’s also the mother of Bac In Front, the winner of the PCQHRA Breeders Derby and La Primera Del Ano Derby in 2015.
Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Renewed posted the second fastest qualifying time of :19.876 after winning the opening trial in :19.876. Like One Sweet Runner, the Walk Thru Fire colt came into this race after running in his previous start in an allowance race, Renewed’s effort coming against Doing Trix on May 27. Well rested for this race, Renewed recovered after some bumping at the start to take the lead before cruising a half-length victory with Jose Nicasio aboard. The fifth place finisher in last year’s Golden State Million Futurity, Renewed was picking up his third win in nine starts.
Racing from the outside post number eight, Ron Hartley’s Myfavoritestreaker won the final trial of the night thanks to a wire to wire victory in a time of :20.003. Ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer John Cooper, Myfavoritestreaker finished as the seventh fastest qualifier. He was picking up his fourth win in 12 starts. The list of qualifiers also included AJS Anna Smoke, which will be looking for a sweep of the Governor’s Cup series after winning the futurity last year. AJS Anna Smoke finished second to One Sweet Runner in the trials, but posted the third fastest qualifying time of :19.904. Multiple stakes finalists Katella Deli and Kiddy Up Cowgirl are among the other top names that also advanced to the derby final.
The complete list of qualifiers is as follows: One Sweet Runner (:19.839), Renewed (:19.876), AJS Anna Smoke (:19.904), Evil Genius (:19.911), Kiddy Up Cowgirl (:19.931), Katella Deli (:19.960), Myfavoritestreaker (:20.003), A Bit Quirky (:20.027), American Force (:20.081), and Western Coast (:20.102).
Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com
