Preview Racing


Terrific First Down Heads Field Of 10 For $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby On Saturday
Parsons' Terrific First Down will head a strong field in Saturday's Grade 3, $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez
Terrific First Down Heads Field Of 10 For $210,000 La Primera Del Ano Derby On Saturday

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MARCH 28, 2019—Jay and Char Parsons will have an excellent chance to win the La Primera Del Año Derby for the second year in a row when they're represented by fastest qualifier Terrific First Down and Governor's Cup Futurity runner-up Favorite Wise Lady in Saturday's Grade III, $210,000 derby at 400 yards.

The Parsons won the La Primera last year with multiples stakes winner A Political Lady, who would eventually be named the 2018 AQHA champion 3-year-old filly. Terrific First Down is now the 9-5 favorite in the derby after scoring a daylight victory in the trials. Sired by FDD Dynasty and out of the Grade 1 winning mare Terrific Energy, Terrific First Down finished third in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby earlier this year.

"We love both of our fillies so much," Char Parsons said. "We'll be at Los Alamitos with bells on to watch them rung this weekend. It'll be so great to see Terrific First Down race with Eduardo Nicasio up. She was Jay's pick as a yearling and has really come on as a 3-year-old. Favorite Wise Lady is a sentimental favorite of mine because Cody Jensen will be aboard. He's ridden a lot of our horses going back many years."

As for Terrific First Down's dam, Parsons said that the future continues to be bright for Terrific Energy.

"Terrific Energy is doing great," she said. "We have her at Burns Ranch right now. She's doing great health wise. We want to breed her to Walk Thru Fire and Fly Thru The Fire. We also breed her each year to FDD Dynasty. We always let her carry one of her babies and this year's we'll probably have her carry a baby by FDD Dynasty."

Sired by Favorite Cartel, Favorite Wise Lady is a half-sister to champion A Political Lady. She began her career with four consecutive top two finishes, but has been out of the money in her last two outings. Nevertheless, Favorite Wise Lady remains a special part of Parsons Ranch, as is her mother, Another Wise Lady.

"With Another Wise Lady, we've had problems breeding her here at our ranch in each of the past two years," Char added. "We sent her to Dr. Burns this year because he's just so excellent breeding horses. Hopefully she can get pregnant this year. We'd like to breed her to Apollitical Jess again after how great A Political Lady turned out. She's been such a thrill. We'll also breed her again to Favorite Cartel."

Burns Ranch will be represented by two talented fillies as well in trial winner Stel A Gambler and Governor's Cup Futurity third place finisher You Caught My Eye. The latter qualified tenth, but she did it in an impressive way after bumping early on. After the bump, jockey Jesus Rios Ayala lost his irons, yet You Caught My Eye stayed on task and managed to run fourth to Terrific First Down. She'll start from post number six. Both fillies are trained by Mike Casselman.

Symbol Of Faith, Always Dreaming, Jess Motions, Anas Image, Selective and No Telling will complete the field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.