LOS ALAMITOS, CA—APRIL 18, 2018—Seventeen 2-year-olds, including 13 with dreams of qualifying to the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity, will be in action in races four and five on Friday night at Los Alamitos.

The program will feature a Pick 6 Carryover of $5,577. The Pick 6 starts in race three. There are a total of eight races on the card with first post set for 7 p.m. The Kindergarten hopefuls are headed by Salvador Pimienta’s homebred One Berry, an Arizona-bred filly out of Blackberry Czech, who won the Kindergarten Futurity for Pimienta in 2012. Trained by Felix Gonzalez, who also conditioned Blackberry Czech, One Berry will debut in race five after showing a great deal of talent in morning works.

The One Sweet Jess filly posted a :12.50 work on March 6, which was the eighth fastest of 25 drills. She came back to post a bullet drill of :12.10, which was the fastest of 57 drills on March 24. In addition to the Kindergarten Futurity, One Berry is also eligible to run in the Golden State Million Futurity trials. Erasmo Gasca gets the call.

Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Legally Hott is among the nine fillies that will be in action in race five at 300 yards. The Walk Thru Fire filly was the 7-5 favorite in her debut back on April 7, but she reared at the start and was last out of the gate. Trainer Roberto Dominguez brings Legally Hott right back for a second start, this one with the hope to see her show the form that she displayed when posting the bullet :12.20 drill from 23 works on March 17. Jonathan Roman will ride.

Jaime Gomez’s First Class Cartel, a half-sister to champion 2-year-old filly J Fire Up, will be making her career debut in race five. Sired by Carters Cartel, First Class Cartel had a :12.80 drill on March 20, but then put together a solid work when posting a :12.40 drill on March 31- the sixth fastest from 37 works held that morning.

Jose Nicasio will ride. Another runner to watch is Marin Jones and Steven McIntyre’s Quick To Royalty, who had the fastest of 35 drills on April 3 (:12.10). She’s a half-sister to Cole Man 47, who debuted last week with a solid runner-up effort. C.K. and Laurel Allen’s Strawfinders Stela, a half-sister to stakes winner Strawfinders Jessee, will also compete in the fifth.

An open event for 2-year-olds is set as the fourth race on the card at 300 yards. The field will include EG High Desert Farms’ Bail Czech, a Corona Czech gelding out of 2012 California Breeders' Debutante Stakes winner Letty Bail Regis Out.

The young broodmare produced the allowance placed runner Diamonds Blue Eye. Pazazz Quarterhorses Ltd’s A Classic Tequila, a filly by Stel Corona, is out of A Sisstar, the dam of 2009 Ed Burke Million Futurity deadheat winner Streakin Laquinta.

Pimienta Ready To Enjoy Another Homebred Runner

When One Berry debuts in Friday’s fourth race at Los Alamitos, she’ll become the latest addition to a growing list of Los Alamitos runners for owner/breeder Salvador Pimienta. The Arizona-based horseman has raced many standouts at the Orange County oval, including One Berry’s dam, the 2012 Kindergarten Futurity winner Blackberry Czech.

"One Berry was born and raised at our ranch in Marana, Arizona, just like Blackberry Czech." Pimienta began. "We are truly a family operation. My wife and children take care of raising our horses and we’ve been fortunate to have some success with our homebreds. One Berry reminds me of Blackberry Czech in her physical appearance and in the way that she’s trained. She posted a :12.5 in her first drill, but then came back with a nice :12.10. When she did that it made us feel that maybe we had something special, but of course, we’ll need luck."

Pimienta recently received a certificate of recognition from the American Quarter Horse Association for being a breeder for the past 10 years. His breeding operation has been headed by the broodmare, Corona Blurr, the dam of 2010 El Primero Del Ano Derby fastest qualifier Rey Tiburon, 2012 Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity finalist Bingo, and graded stakes finalist Sonora Cartel.

The latter also became a top mare for Pimienta, as her foals have included 2015 Golden State Million Futurity finalist El Karma and 2014 Kindergarten Futurity finalist Ochoteco. Then there’s One Berry’s female family, which is a special one for Pimienta. One Berry’s granddam is RA Noble, a mare that he acquired from the late Ron and Rosie Alvarado.

"Rosie loved Blackberry Czech like if she owned her," Pimienta said. "She enjoyed Blackberry Czech’s wins and felt it when she didn’t win. She had a special connection with that horse. Whenever I would send RA Noble or Blackberry Czech to Burns Ranch for breeding, the Alvarados would make a trip out there to visit them. We’ll always remember Ron and Rosie fondly and I have plans to name one of our yearlings in remembrance of Rosie in the future."

It’ll be a touching tribute honoring a loved California-based owner. In the meantime, it’ll be One Berry’s turn to keep Pimienta’s line of talented runners going at Los Alamitos.

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Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.