LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JUNE 10, 2021—Bobby Simmons’ Mental Error, a stakes winner in each of his last two starts, Ed Allred’s Golden State Derby winner Circle City, and Mr Jet Moore Stakes winner Eagles Fly Higher are among the 15 aged horses that will race in the trials to the Grade 1, $154,800 Vessels Maturity on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The horses with the 10 fastest times will return here for the Vessels Maturity final to be held on Saturday, July 3.

To be ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, Mental Error gets top billing in the first of two trials after winning the Kaweah Bar Handicap on May 1 and the First Day of Spring Stakes on March 20. He also won his trial to the Grade 2 Southern California Derby at the end of the 2020 season, giving him three wins from his last four starts. His win in the Kaweah Bar also gave Sanchez his 150th stakes victory at Los Alamitos. The two will join forces from post number seven in the seventh on Saturday night.

Javier Chavez and Juan H. Moya’s Redneck Ryan, who ran second to Mental Error in the Kaweah Bar, will try to turn the tables on that rival in this trial. He certainly has the quickness to jump into the early lead having posted the meet’s fastest 300-yard time of :15.26 when winning his local debut back on January 17.

Juniors Quarter Horses, Inc’s Made Over, who was sharp second in the A Ransom Handicap last year, has had a couple of excellent morning works coming into this race and could be the surprise package in the opening trial.

Darling Farms and Valeriano Racing Stables LLC’s Eagles Fly Higher returns in the second Vessels trial while racing here for the first time since his Brad McKinzie trial last year. He is one to watch after a strong Remington Park campaign in which he won the Mr Jet Moore and the Eastex Stakes. The son of One Famous Eagle comes in with over $604,000 in earnings. Cattail Cove looks like his main foe in this trial.

Here is a look at each of the runners competing in the 400-yard trials, which are scheduled as races seven and eight this evening:

TRIAL #1 (RACE 7) – LISTED IN POST POSITION ORDER

1. Circle City - Won the Golden State Derby last year but was even better in his trial to the Golden State, winning the race by 1 1/4 lengths while having as big as a two-length lead during the race. He made a nice late surge when third in the Kaweah Bar Handicap in his last out.
2. Cartel Rocks - Won an allowance race last year and won an allowance race earlier this year as well. He has also been a part of four stakes races, his best effort being a fifth-place finish in last year’s Kaweah Bar.
3. Kiss My Astica - Will make her 2021 debut after running at Ruidoso Downs and Lone Star Park last year. Her last out came in the Texas Classic Derby on November 28.
4. Up Is Up - Hard to forget his stellar 1 1/4 length allowance win on June 20, 2020. Up Is Up (right) was sensational on that night but has only raced once more since that victory. He is a full brother to Grade 1 winner Kiddy Up Cowgirl.
5. Redneck Ryan - A 7-year-old stallion by Separatist, he has finished second or better in all four of his local starts this year. He has been first or second in 15 of his 28 career starts and was second in the Kaweah Bar.
6. Max My Bullets - Will be making her first start since running fifth in the A Ransom Handicap on December 18. She was fighting for the early lead in that race and has often shown good speed out of the gate.
7. Mental Error - He has hit the board in three major stakes at the Orange County oval, including a second-place finish to champion Tell Cartel in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. He was purchased for $16,000 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale and has earned over $375,000.
8. Made Over - He was on the lead in the A Ransom Handicap before settling for second place to Mr Ricks. He has not shown the same gate speed in his last two starts, but he is often challenging for a top three spot.

TRIAL #2 (RACE 8) – LISTED IN POST POSITION ORDER

1. Old School Icon - Second in the El Primero and third in the Southern California Derby last year. He was an allowance winner earlier this year, which was only his second career win.
2. Mister Tornado - He packs a punch but was a surprising half-length winner at 110 yards in his last start just two weeks ago. He will be closing.
3. Summer Cartel - Lightly-raced gelding arrives via Zia Park. Broke his maiden in his last start. He will be trained here by Adan Farias.
4. Cattail Cove - Has been outstanding in stakes trials, finishing in the top two in his five races at this level. He was second to AQHA champion Cartel Jess Rockin in the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity in 2019.
5. Eagles Fly Higher - The richest runner in this field with $604,869 in earnings. He won the Grade 1 Sooner Stakes last year and is four-time Grade 2 winner. He finished in the Texas Classic Futurity in 2018.
6. Sepertist Dash - Will be making his first start for trainer Luke Lindsey. Earlier this year, he finished second to Jess Macho Corona in a trial to the Brad McKinzie. He is the oldest in this group at 8-years-old.
7. Spirit Foose - Six of his last nine outs have been 110 yards so he will be in the early mix. Ran third to Redneck Ryan at 300 yards on Jan. 17.

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