UNBEATEN CV FDDDINASTY SHAN HEADS PCQHRA BREEDERS FUTURITY SUNDAY AT LOS ALAMITOS

Undefeated Grade 1 winner Cv Fdddinasty Shan leads a stellar 10-horse lineup into Sunday night’s Grade 2, $270,000 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity at Los Alamitos. Owned by J. Francisco Diaz and trained by Lindolfo Diaz, the standout gelding solidified his spot at the top of the division by setting the fastest qualifying time of :17.680 over 350 yards during trials night on August 23.

Bred in Mexico by Jgs Racing Stables, the son of FDD Dynasty out of Shangrilalala took his career mark to a perfect 4-for-4. His trial victory came in the night’s sixth trial, where he renewed rivalries with Ed Burke Memorial Futurity runner-up Faultless plus eventual PCQHRA Breeders Futurity finalist Celtic Cowboy. Despite a bit of slow break and once again drifting during the race, Cv Fdddinasty Shan showed his trademark late gear, overpowering the field to secure a half-length victory over Celtic Cowboy.

Pilot Jesus Rios Ayala, who was in the irons for the trial win, retains the mount and will pilot he Grade 1 winner from the outside post number 10. Trainer Lindolfo Diaz credited the gelding's professional demeanor for his continued success following his $960,000 Ed Burke win.

"Just an amazing horse," Diaz said. "He’s so professional. He’s the easiest horse to train with and easiest horse to deal with. He’s all class. We gave him a little bit of time, freshening him up like 10 days to two weeks (after the Ed Burke). Then we started training him a little bit lighter for about three weeks before getting after him. I gave him a little breeze about three weeks before the trials just to set him up, and he came back pretty good."

While Cv Fdddinasty Shan commands the spotlight, several top-tier juveniles posted eye-catching performances to secure their spots in Sunday’s main event.

Dale Winterton’s Nuclear Arsenal proved he is a major force in the division, recording the second-fastest qualifying time of the night by winning his trial in :17.745. Trained by Paul Jones and ridden by Eduardo Nicasio, the son of Inspyre out of the standout mare Thermonuclear Energy battled late to win his heat by a head. Having previously finished third in the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity final, Nuclear Arsenal brings proven big-race experience to the gates. He’ll start from post number three while looking for his fourth win of his juvenile campaign.

Juan Moya and Saul Acosta’s Test Pilot edged out Indiana Fever by a nose in the trials as both advanced to the final. The Golden Boi displayed grit under pressure and should be a major threat to the top two qualifiers if he can once again show his early speed. Ricardo Ramirez will ride the Jose Flores-trainee. Flores will saddle two others in the Breeders Futurity final, both sired by the outstanding Flying Cowboy123. Flores will leg up Irving Lara aboard the Arizona-bred Celtic Cowboy, while Gabriel Lara will ride Famous Cowboy To You for Javier Alvarez Rodriguez. Famous Cowboy To You debuted with a second place finish Cv Fdddinasty Shan back on April 26, making up some ground during the later part of that race.

Gamaliel Garza Garcia’s Uptick hopes to continue his upward trajectory after earning his fourth fastest qualifying mark. The Favorite Cartel colt led his trial from gate to wire to earn his second career win. Trained by Juan Aleman and to be ridden by Martin Arriaga, the Allred-bred colt out of stakes winner Up For It broke inwards before lugging out when racing from post one in the trials. He’ll move to outer post for the final, as he starts from lane number eight.

"He had trouble," trainer Juan Aleman noted. "He broke in and he’s never worked well on the inside. On a work, he did the same thing—he just doesn’t like the rail. You can see that he had a lot of horse left. Martin was holding him the whole way. I think he could have gone a lot faster."

Larry and Bobbie Rice’s AJ Your Favorite showed both fireworks and composure in her trial win. The Apollitical Jess filly unsaddled jockey Justine Klaiber on the way to the post and endured a starting delay after a gate horse broke through and was scratched. Once loaded in post three, she broke sharply to win by a head over Jessonefamouseagle.

"She just got a little hot," Klaiber said. "She handled the delay pretty good for the way she behaved. She broke pretty good and finished strong."

Juniors Quarter Horses, Inc.’s Rational, a filly by Favorite Cartel out of champion Quirky, was outstanding in winning the opening trial on the night as she advanced to the final. Bred by Steve Burns and trained by Paul Jones, she broke from post seven under Eduardo Nicasio to score a half-length victory over Ed Burke fastest qualifier Zionsville. Her trial win added to a memorable night for the family tree, as her older half-brother Mask Mandate captured the Go Man Go Handicap later on the same card.

"I really loved having the outside post for this filly and being in an early race," Paul Jones said of Rational. "She just did everything right. Nicasio did a good job riding her. This filly is just getting better and better. I’m happy for Juniors Quarter Horse. When you get a clean break, a clean race, and room to run, the good horses prevail."

Rational will start from the rail in this race while AJ Your Favorite has drawn post number six.

KEY STORYLINES TO WATCH ON SUNDAY

• The Undefeated Target: All eyes remain on Cv Fdddinasty Shan. Winning back-to-back major futurities at Los Alamitos is no small task, but his raw speed and ability to overcome minor trouble make him the undisputed horse to beat.
• Gate Manners and Post Draws: Filly AJ Your Favorite and rail-averse colt Uptick proved they have top-flight speed, but the post position draw has been kind for both, which should allow their natural speed to shine.
• The Paul Jones Barn: Hall of Fame trainer Paul Jones is represented by trio formidable threats in Nuclear Arsenal, Rational, and Jessonefamouseagle. Eduardo Nicasio rode Nuclear Arsenal and Rational in the trials, but sticks with the Bobby Cox-bred colt, while former leading rider Armando Cervantes gets the riding assignment on Rational. Jessonefamouseagle, owned by Thompson Racing and Korry Trapp, was a solid second in his trial and Henry Reynoso Lopez has piloted him in each of five starts.

The field from the rail out is as follows: Rational, Test Pilot, Nuclear Arsenal, Celtic Cowboy, Indiana Fever, AJ Your Favorite, Famous Cowboy To You, Uptick, Jessonefamouseagle, and Cv Fdddinasty Shan.

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