Racing


Reginas Royal Choice Best In Sunday's Early Derby at Turf Paradise
Reginas Royal Choice, under jockey Kevin Carbajal, winning the 8,600 Early Derby (not black type) Sunday afternoon at Turf Paradise.

© Coady Photography
Reginas Royal Choice Best In Sunday's Early Derby at Turf Paradise

PHOENIX, AZ—JANUARY 20, 2019—Despite a bobbled start and a bump out of the gate under jockey Kevin Carbajal, Reginas Royal Choice recovered nicely from to get a half-length win over Im Rocket Man in the $8,600 Early Derby (not black type) Sunday afternoon at Turf Paradise. Lookin Good was three-quarters of a length back to take third.

Owner-trainer Guillermo Morales saddled the Royaltys Choice filly to her second career win from eight starts. The gray filly covered the 350 yards in :17.863 seconds, earning a 92-speed index into a 6 mph headwind. Coming off a third-place effort in the AQRA Southwest Futurity last month, she banked $5,172 to bring her lifetime bankroll to $16,152.

Bred in California by A Regal Choice, Inc., Reginas Royal Choice is from the A Classic Dash mare Fed X Dash. Also second in the Firecracker Futurity at Grants Pass last summer, she has compiled a (8) 2-1-1 record.

Jockey Luis Valenzuela had the riding call aboard runner-up Im Rocket Man for owner Jesus Avila and trainer Eloy Navarro. Joel and Gustavao De La Torre bred the One Dashing Eagle colt in California from the Spanish Boot mare Dlt Runaway. He earned $1,668 for the effort to bring his earnings to $16,513.

Third-place finisher Lookin Good races for owner-trainer Travis Wheeler. McKenzie King rode the Hawkinson filly out of Looks Like Texas by Desirio. The sorrel filly has won or placed in five of eight starts and earned $8,243. James Boyle is the breeder.

Ls Power, Babe Watchin, Ahs Blue Boy, Dashing Katt and Hamilton completed the field.