LOS ALAMITOS, CA— SEPTEMBER 11, 2014—It has been quite a season for Ron and Jeryl Hartley’s Moonist at Los Alamitos. The son of Separatist has won seven of eight races and won three important derbies at Los Alamitos and just last month the AQHA honored the Vessels Stallion Farm-bred runner with the award of Superior Race Horse for his impressive achievements and outstanding performances in racing.

Moonist may not be done yet, as he’ll lead a talented group of runners in the first of three trials to the PCQHRA Breeders Derby on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The eight-race program will also feature the Pick 6 Carryover of $15,529 from August 31.

Trained by John Cooper and ridden by Cesar De Alba, Moonist will be hoping to have a qualifying effort in Saturday’s trials that would keep him in line for a grand slam of derby victories this year. A winner of six races in a row, Moonist ‘s winning streak includes the $202,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby, the $193,000 Governor’s Cup Derby and the Grade 1 $228,000 Golden State Derby. He’ll come into this race with 11 wins in 18 career starts and earnings of $288,538.

The derby trial that will feature Moonist appears to be the strongest of the day. The field will also include Freakier LLC’s Fiesty Flo, the winner of the La Primera Del Ano Derby, and Stanley Watkins’ Jiffy James, who’ll make his first start since running in the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity last November.

Making her first start for trainer Justin Clark, Fiesty Flo will come into this derby trial after a surprising seventh place finish in the Golden State Derby trials on August 10. The Tr Dasher filly never got going in that race, but prior to that outing she had finished in the money in four straight outings, including her easy daylight win in the La Primera. Santiago Mendez will ride Fiesty Flo from post number three.

Trained by Charles Treece, Jiffy James, a gelded son of Jesse James Jr, could be the x-factor in this event. He has posted several nice workouts and has top level stakes experience after running in both the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and Golden State Million final last year.

Racing for Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches LLC, the AQHA champion owners in 2014, Le Mishka Jess ran in futurity trials at Los Alamitos last year and recently scored a tremendous allowance victory on August 2. The filly is by leading sire Mr Jess Perry.

This talented group of trial runners will also feature Vessels Stallion Farm's Dynasty Of Habits, who has competed in three derbies this year. Trained by Cody Joiner, the FDD Dynasty filly has raced in the Los Alamitos Winter Derby, La Primera Del Ano Derby, and Governor’s Cup Derby finals.

The second trial will feature talented runners like Ms First Prize Rose, Unchangeable, and Look Of A Dasher to just mention a few. Owned by Johnny Trotter and Burnett Ranches, LLC, the daughter of leading sire Corona Cartel won the Grade 1 Rainbow Futurity last year and was fifth in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

Ron and Ronnie Keller’s Stel Corona gelding Unchangeable missed winning the Ed Burke Million Futurity by a nose last year, while Ed Allred’s Tr Dasher gelding, Look Of A Dasher, enters this race after running fourth to Moonist in the Golden State Derby.

The third and final trial looks like a wide open event, but Paulo Otavio Freire MacEdo’s Solid Connection comes in after appearing in the Golden State Derby just a couple of weeks ago. The filly by Mr Jess Perry won her Golden State derby trial as well as her sophomore debut against allowance foes on June 13. Others to watch in this race include PCQHRA Breeders Futurity finalist Fashion Foose, by Fooose, and multiple major stakes winner More Than Wild, also by Stel Corona.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.