LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MARCH 29, 2019—An exceptional horse will surely rise into national prominence when easily and impressively defeating a quality field by daylight in a graded stakes race or by recovering from early trouble to fly back to score a thrilling victory against star rivals.

Rosenthal Ranch's Powerful Favorite has already done both in 2019. Displaying power and athleticism, the son of Favorite Cartel broke sharply in the running of the Grade I Los Alamitos Winter Derby on February 9 and then took off to post a dominant 1 ½ length victory at 400 yards.

The James Markum and Steve Burns-bred gelding stumbled at the start of his trial to the Grade III El Primero Del Año Derby before fighting back to edge multiple Grade 1 finalist Apollitical Pence by a nose on the way to posting the fastest qualifying time of :19.638.

With a record of three wins in as many starts this year, Powerful Favorite is the one to beat in Sunday's $211,000 El Primero final at Los Alamitos. He'll face nine outstanding rivals in the 400-yard dash which is scheduled as the final race of tonight's eight-race card.

The field will also feature Apollitical Pence, who'll be racing in his fifth career stakes final, and Ali Babe Foose, the 2018 PCQHRA 2-year-old colt of the year. Stakes winners KR Hi Five and Tac Me Up and El Primero trial winners Red Hawk Cartel, Teller Hez Famous and Dexxter will also race.

The field will be completed by Bail Czech, who posted a solid allowance victory two races ago, and Jess Curlin, who is the great family of champions Ocean Runaway, Wave Carver and several other Grade I level runners.

As strong as the El Primero lineup shapes up, most eyes will be on Powerful Favorite with Eduardo Nicasio up from post nine.

"He's starting to really get my attention and amaze me," trainer Chris O'Dell said. "He's overcoming little trouble points, whether it's getting out of the gate or getting bumped. That's what makes a true racehorse. He's really maturing into a super, super horse. It's hard to describe him. He's just turned into a super horse."

Martha Wells' Red Hawk Cartel, who finished second to Powerful Favorite in the Winter Derby, has continued to impress heading to the El Primero final. Also sired by Favorite Cartel, the homebred colt won his trial over EG High Desert Farms' Bail Czech while posting the third fastest time of :19.681.

"The best part is that he's still colt," Wells said. "He's bred well. He's smart. He's professional and (trainer Matt Fales) has done a great job training him. He's good in the gate. He's just a good boy. I came close to (gelding) him after his second out. We ran him on California Breeders Champions Night and he was a good boy in that race. I said 'okay, we'll let you pass this time.' He's been very good ever since."

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.