LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 16, 2019—The first time J. Francisco Diaz's Chayito Cartel and Ron and Jeryl Hartley's Chickititas Favorite met they were separated by only a nose in a maiden event on April 19.

Chayito Cartel came out on top in that race and followed it up with a strong trial win on Sunday, May 5 to post the fastest qualifying time to the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Not to be outdone, Chickititas Favorite was equally strong in his Kindergarten trial, winning by 3/4 lengths and in the second fastest qualifying time. Chayito Cartel's winning time of :15.444 bettered Chickititas Favorite's time of :15.449 by 5/1000ths of a second or a nose in terms of winning margin.

The two outstanding 2-year-olds will meet for a second time in Sunday's running of the Grade 2, $361,700 Kindergarten final and if their first outings are any indication, it should be a fantastic race. The Kindergarten is set as the ninth and final race on the card. First post is 5:50 p.m. The Kindergarten is set for 9:34 p.m. (PDT)

Another big winner on trial night was Favorite Cartel, as he sired the top two qualifiers plus the fifth fastest, Cartel Jess Rockin, and seventh fastest, Mental Rock. Of the 10 qualifiers, geldings posted the four fastest times (Diamond Rock and Leonel Bugatti), but there were also four fillies that qualified in Cartel Jess Rockin, Dreams Divine, A Political Spell, Spectacular Corona.

Mental Error is the only colt in the race while the remaining horse, the tenth fastest qualifier Corona Lake is also a gelding. Spectacular Corona's mother, champion Separate Fire, won the Kindergarten in 2011.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.