Scoops Dynasty, under jockey Armando Cervantes, dominated the Grade 2 Golden State Derby at Los Alamitos Race Course Sunday night.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 14, 2022—Ed and Von Zae McNelis’ homebred Scoops Dynasty completely dominated the running of the Grade 2, $210,000 Golden State Derby, as he flew to a 1 ¾ length early advantage before improving from there in route to a smashing three-length victory on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Scoops Dynasty has been perfect during his sophomore campaign, winning all five of his starts including three stakes victories this year.

In addition to his Golden State Derby victory, the gelding by FDD Dynasty won the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Derby by ¾ lengths on February 19 and won the Adequan California Derby Challenge by a length on May 22.

Golden State Derby winning owner Ed McNelis in the Los Alamitos winner's circle.. © William Zuazo

The Idaho bred won once from five starts last year for earnings of $38,988, but this year he’s earned $205,552. That includes $88,200 for winning the Golden State Derby at 400 yards in a time of :19.509, the fastest time in this race since AQHA champion Moonist won the 2014 running in :19.34. Scoops Dynasty’s final 220-yard clocking was a sizzling fast :09.360.

"This is the first big horse that we’ve had," Ed McNelis said. "It truly means a lot. It’s unbelievable. We have his momma and a share in his daddy."

McNelis purchased Scoops Dynasty’s dam, Bye Sweet Girl, at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. In addition to Scoops Dynasty, she’s also produced My Game Plan, the winner of the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes earlier this year.

Ed McNelis, Armando Cervantes and Monty Arrossa accept the Golden State Derby stakes trophy. © William Zuazo

"We have some of these babies at the sales coming up this year," McNelis added. "She had triplets that we put in surrogate mares. They are by Flying Cowboy 123. Two of them are in the Heritage Place Sale and one of them is in the Los Alamitos Equine Sale. We came back this year and we have two full siblings to (Scoops Dynasty) and we bred her to Tell Cartel. It’s exciting and if there’s anything better than being in the Quarter Horse business, I don’t know what it is."

A resident of Nampa, Idaho, McNelis was in banking for 34 years. The owner does not use the word "retired" when it comes to his current job status, instead he prefers to use the word "redirected."

"I do some real estate development," said McNelis, who has been out of the banking business for 30 years.

McNelis has long been involved in various AQHA committees and youth programs; endeavors that also keep him busy in endeavors that he loves.

Golden State Derby winning trainer Monty Arrossa and Scoops Dynasty Sunday night. © Orlando Gutierrez

"I’ve always said that if it doesn’t help youth, I’m not going to work on it," he added. "I’ve done a lot with ‘Youth Day at the Races’ and helping to rebuild some of the state associations. I’m really focused on that now because they all need help. It’s a whole new world and we have do things different. What keeps me with AQHA besides the horses is the good people. You can’t find better people."

Owned by Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas, Set For It earned $35,700 for finishing second with Rodrigo Aceves up for trainer Adan Farias. The Seperate Interest gelding has finished second or better in eight of his nine career starts.

S-Quarter K LLC, Robyn Gordon and Juan H. Moya’s Dasha Dynasty, a colt by FDD Dynasty, finished in a dead heat for third with the Corona Cartel colt Griffindore, who races for Gordon, Paul Jones, and Roque Gonzalez.

They each earned $19,950 for running third.

Insider Information, Mason Jar, A Famous Ribbon, Unavailable, Dasha Good Reason, and Jesstanothercartel completed the field.

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