LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 8, 2019—Six fillies that competed in the Grade 3, $210,000 La Primera Del Año Derby will be joined by Grade 2 stakes finalist SC Coronada, stakes winner Striver and talented runners Razzel Dazzel and Sassy Favorite to complete a top notch field of 10 sophomore fillies in the $30,000 La Pacifica Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The eight-race program will include three races for 2-year-olds featuring several of the most impressive 2-year-olds seen during morning works so far this season.

Dr. Steve Burns' Stel A Gambler, who won her trial to the La Primera by a neck before running third to Terrific First Down in the 400-yard final, gets top billing in the La Pacifica at 350-yard distance. Trainer Mike Casselman has been impressed with the filly's development in 2019 after a solid freshman season in which she finished in the money in four of her last five outings.

Casselman will also saddle Burns' You Caught My Eye, who finished fourth in the La Primera, and was third in last year's Governor's Cup Futurity. The other La Primera finalists back in action in the La Pacifica are No Telling, Anas Image, Favorite Wise Lady and Jess Motions, which finished fifth through eighth, respectively, in the derby final.

As for the 2-year-olds to watch, circle the names of Up and Coming and Tea Pod from the Chris O'Dell barn; Starlet and Up And Atem from the Scott Willoughby barn; the Terry Knight -trained My Man Memo; Octavia from Patricia Visscher's stable; and the Juan Aleman owned and trained gelding CC Varsity Jacket.

Top 2-Year-Olds In Action On Friday Night

Following a great night of trials to the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on Sunday, more top 2-year-olds will be in action in races seven and eight Friday night at Los Alamitos. First post is 6 p.m.

Many of the juveniles in these two trials are eligible to compete in the Ed Burke Million Futurity trials at 350 yards on June 9. Horses must have at least one start in order to be eligible to race in the trials. The seventh race for fillies will be headed by Geothermal, a half-sister to La Primera Del Año Derby winner Terrific First Down, and the Tres Seis filly Fuego De Pithia, a $48,000 purchase at the Heritage Place Yearling Sale. Tempting First Dash, out of the dam of champion Tempting Dash, will also be in action.

The eighth race will be led by Sass Go Blue, a gelding out of champion aged mare Sass Me Blue, and Wrong Impression, who had a very troubled debut while still running second to Kindergarten finalist Diamond Rock.

The fourth and fifth races will feature solid Thoroughbred fields. Recent winners in action in these races include Its Just Bob Lea's Reward, Parasail, Passion For Papa and My Ebony Star, plus Foxy Fresh, who faced Quarter Horses at the stakes level in her last outing.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.