Corona Chick, Ed Grimley Lead Field for Ed Burke Memorial

Corona Chick and Ed Grimley, leading contenders for national championship honors, head a field of 10 2-year-old quarter horses in tonight’s $295,000 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity at Los Alamitos.

Corona Chick, the 7-5 morning-line favorite, recorded the fastest 350-yard qualifying time on Sept. 18--17.50 seconds--won the Governor’s Cup Futurity on Aug. 17 and is a leading candidate for 2-year-old filly of the year.

Ed Grimley was California’s best hope in the All-American Futurity at Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico but finished a neck back in the $2-million Labor Day race. He won the Bay Meadows Futurity last July against some of the same horses he will face in the Ed Burke.

One qualifier, Hes A Dazzlin Dasher, was withdrawn by trainer Charles Bloomquist before entries were taken Wednesday. Consequently, Innocent Dash, 11th fastest in the trials, was admitted to the field.

The field, from the rail, with jockeys: Innocent Dash, Bruce Pilkenton; Ed Grimley, Henry Garcia; Holland Ease, Jerry Nicodemus; Rush Fora Firstdown, Eddie Garcia; Corona Chick, Kip Didericksen; Dashing Cleat, John Creager; Reign Of Terror, Jim Lewis; and Hope To Dash, Roman Figueroa. The Ed Burke Futurity is the 10th race of a 12-race program that begins at 7:25 p.m.