AREA RACING : Fairplex Events Set Stage for Future

Two races at Fairplex Park this weekend promise to play important roles in determining the shape of two six-figure races set for the following weekend.

Saturday’s $50,000-added Derby Trial will probably point out contenders for the $100,000 Pomona Derby seven days later. And the winner of Sunday’s $50,000-added C. B. Afflerbaugh Stakes will receive an automatic invitation to the $150,000 Pomona Invitational on Sept. 30.

In addition, the richest race of the meeting will be decided Saturday, when Fusion Illusion tops 10 2-year-old quarter horses set to meet in the estimated $200,000 Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Assn. Breeders Futurity.

Sunday’s crowd at Fairplex Park, and those at the 10 Southern California inter-track wagering sites taking the Fairplex races, can also wager on the $1-million Super Derby from Louisiana Downs.

The Super Derby--which matches Summer Squall, Unbridled and local heroes Stalwart Charger and Cee’s Tizzy--will be run between early races Sunday.

TK’s Skipper tops the field of seven Saturday night in the $35,000 third leg of the American Pacing Classic at Los Alamitos.

Also on tap Saturday night on the 12-event program is the $25,000 California Gold Series Final for pacing colts and geldings. Spicy Shawn Joseph, a narrow winner of the third leg of the series last Saturday, figures to be the favorite.