LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 30, 2020—Rosenthal Ranch LLC’s Runforyourlife will look to repeat his flawless winning effort in the trials when he heads a full field of 10 in the Grade 2, $140,000 PCQHRA Breeders Derby at 400 yards on Friday at Los Alamitos Race Course.

Ridden by Eduardo Nicasio for trainer Chris O’Dell, Runforyourlife was spectacular in winning the second of two derby trials, flying out of the gate on the way to a ¾ length victory.

The winner of the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity last year, Runforyourlife looked like his old self, flashing big-time quickness, and making it hold through the 400-yard race while posting the fastest time of the night of 19.626. Bred by Dr. Steve Burns, the gelding by Favorite Cartel out of Remember Me Rose also improved his record to six wins from 13 starts.

"What a great trial race," O’Dell said. "It looked like he did it easy. Nicasio knows him and I think this horse will be good the rest of the year. The horses in this family, they each have their own little thing. With Runforyourlife we had to take the blinkers off and he took off from there. They each have their own quirks, but once you figure them out, they are great."

Owner and breeder Ed Allred has won the last two derbies contested at Los Alamitos and he could make it three in a row thanks to a strong trio of performers on Friday night. Allred, who won the Governor’s Cup Derby with Nomadic on July 25 and the Golden State Derby with Circle City on August 16, will be represented by trial winner Up For Speed plus finalist Just Be Real and Bono Is Good. Up For Speed finished second to Nomadic in the Governor’s Cup Derby while Just Be Real finished third in that race.

In winning his PCQHRA Breeders Derby trial, Up For Speed was bumped at the start, putting him behind the 8-ball and in eighth place right away. The gelding by Favorite Cartel started to make up ground right away, moving up to seventh place with 220 yards to go and then flying to third with 110 yards left in the race. He finished wickedly from there, outdueling Steve Burns’ Javelina Cantina and stablemate Bono Is Good to win in the final yards.

Dr. Steve Burns, last year’s AQHA breeder of the year, will be represented by his talented homebred You Can Run, who posted the second fastest qualifying time of :19.755 after posting a runner-up finish to Runforyourlife in their trial.

Another talented gelding by Favorite Cartel, You Can Run was second in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby and third in the Grade 2 Golden State Derby. Javelina Cantina, One Sweet Change, Fire By Night, Jess A Little More and Calida will complete the field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.