LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 15, 2019—Ed Allred's Chocolatito will look to remain undefeated in 2019 when he takes on the toughest field he has faced in his career in the Grade 2, $211,100 Golden State Derby at 400 yards on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

To be ridden by Vinnie Bednar for trainer Scott Willoughby, Chocolatito will be going after his fourth win of the year. He's been spectacular in his first three victories: winning an allowance race by two lengths; cruising to a 1 1/2 length win in the Dillingham Handicap; and posting the fastest qualifying time while scoring a 3/4 length win in his trial to the Golden State Derby. His overall outing was outstanding because of the professionalism he showed when his inside rival became fractious in the gate.

"He actually sat pretty chilly," Bednar said of Chocolatito. "I really thought he was going to pop on through there because he was so ready to go in the gate. When the other horse pop through there, he sat there real (quiet) and luckily he still broke nicely after all that. He's an old pro. He knows what to do."

The gelding by Favorite Cartel will look to give Allred his sixth win in the Golden State Derby. Allred already holds the stakes record for most victories in this race, his last one coming with Check My Thoughts in the 2012 running. Allred purchased Chocolatito for $50,000 from breeder Dr. Steve Burns at the 2017 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

Richard Frandsen's homebred Favorite Motion is another major player in this race following his impressive daylight win in the second of two derby trials. Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, the Utah-bred broke nicely from along the rail on the way to his second win in as many starts this year. The gelding is also by Favorite Cartel and out of the mare Mia Ta Fame. He's a half-brother to 2008 All American Derby third place finisher Decati.

"We brought him along slow (this season)," Frandsen said. "He's bigger and stronger than he was a 2-year-old. We feel really good about him."

Parsons Family Limited Partnership's Terrific First Down will look to become the first filly since Alice K White in 2009 to win both the Grade 3 La Primera Del Año Derby and Golden State Derby. Three others have done the La Primera/Golden State double. They are Allred's Girl Secrets ('98), Frank Nakamura's Ah Sigh ('95) and Florentine ('87). Alice K White, Ah Sigh and Florentine were all named AQHA champion 3-year-old fillies in their respective years.

Steve McIntyre and Marin Jones' Cole Man 47, winner of last year's PCQHRA Breeders Futurity, is another top name in this race, while EG High Desert Farms will send out the strong duo of Bail Czech and Golden Boy Gonza. Ali Babe Foose, Jess Motions, Conquering Marie, Delayed Steal, and Purty Fancy Dude will complete the Golden State Derby field.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.

Bos Time Machine (#7) gets up over Corona B Gone (#1) to win the $15,000 Catchmeinyourdreams Handicap Friday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.