Preview Racing


Party Politics, Price Fixer Headline El Primero Final On Sunday
Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity winner Party Politics is expected to start in the $192,200 El Primero Del Ano Derby(G2) at Los Alamitos Race Course on Sunday night.

© Amber Mendez
Party Politics, Price Fixer Headline El Primero Final On Sunday

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MARCH 24, 2023—In the trials to the Grade 2 El Primero Del Año Derby, David Hinkins’ Price Fixer took full advantage of a troubled start by JAG Racing Stables’ Party Politics to win their meeting and post the fastest qualifying time to the $195,200 final to be held this Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

With big money up for grabs, the stakes are much higher for Party Politics, Price Fixer and eight other finalists in the El Primero. Will Party Politics put a halt to his surprising two-race losing streak after being the dominant juvenile at Los Alamitos for most of 2022?

Can the very promising Price Fixer take the next step up on the stakes ladder after an overall quiet freshman campaign? Or will talented horses like Dont Sass KVN, Mahomes Magic, and Hes Chickless, a trio with previous Grade 1 experience, put it all together on Sunday night to surprise the 2022 PCQHRA champion 2-year-old gelding Party Politics and the El Primero fastest qualifier Price Fixer?

The other five contenders in this race are just as capable of reaching the winner’s circle on this night, as Dunn Ranch’s Revenant Inside was one of the darlings going into the El Primero trials before some bumping at the start put him behind the eight ball on the way running third to Dont Sass KVN in their trial.

Second to Dont Sass KVN in the trials was Steve Burns’ Turbeau, twice a fourth place finisher in graded futurities last year, and now a big time contender thanks to his solid gate speed that should come into play after drawing the outside post number 10 in the final.

At the other end of the starting gate will be Ed Allred’s Chester Carlson, who has twice been a winner at Los Alamitos while also finishing in the top three in six of his seven career outings. Meanwhile, Vences Racing’s Fire Pit has finished in the top three in four consecutive starts so he enters in good form, and Chickititas Cartel is the other Sergio Morfin trainee, as he forms a solid 1-2 punch with Ah Sigh Stakes winner Hes Chickless.

All In all, this Grade 2 event, now in its 51st running, could come down to Party Politics being in early enough contention to strike late just like he did in winning the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and the Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity last year. In the Golden State Million, the J. Garvan Kelly-bred son of Apollitical Jess found a way to catch and out finished the outstanding Cyber Attack, who six weeks later would win the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

Juan Aleman will saddle Party Politics, a horse the trainer co-owns in partnership with his parents, his sister, and other family members and friends. Party Politics will start from post number nine and comes in with a record of four wins from seven starts and $860,705 in earnings, a figure that is nearly three-times more than the rest of the field combined. Jesus Rios Ayala will ride Party Politics from post number nine.

As for David Hinkins’ Price Fixer, who the owner purchased from the Ed Allred consignment at the 2021 Los Alamitos Equine Sale, the colt by Favorite Cartel had the best race of his nine-race career in the El Primero trials. Fortunate to avoid any type of early trouble, Price Fixer flew to an early lead and never looked back, as he recorded a 1 ½ length victory at 16-1 odds.

Rodrigo Aceves will pilot the Allred-bred for trainer Adan Farias from post seven. Farias and Aceves will look to turn back the clock in search of their second El Primero victory together. They won this race back in 2002 with the multiple graded stakes winner Harley Man.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

For more info' please contact larace@losalamitos.com. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.