LOS ALAMITOS : Pies Royal Request Goes for No. 15

Pies Royal Request, a 4-year-old gelding, will try for a record 15th consecutive quarter horse victory Saturday night when the final field for the $250,000 Champion of Champions will be determined at Los Alamitos in the $20,000 Z. Wayne Griffin Directors Trials.

Pies Royal Request, trained by Connie Hall, most recently won the Grade I Breeders Championship Classic on Nov. 4 but figures to have tough competition from several horses from out of state. Two of the most notable are Kool Kue Baby and Mr Jess Perry.

Kool Kue Baby, a 3-year-old filly, most recently won the TQHA Sires Cup Derby at Retama Park in San Antonio. She had won five stakes races in Texas before arriving at trainer Chuck Treece’s barn last week.

“She has settled in nicely and seems to be very comfortable here,” Treece said.

Kenny Roberts is training Mr Jess Perry, last year’s champion 2-year-old. Mr Jess Perry won the Grade I Texas Classic Derby at Retama Park, his only stakes victory of 1995.

Blane Schvaneveldt has several contenders, among them Seals, last year’s Champion of Champions runner-up. Seals finished second to My Debut in the Los Alamitos Championship this year and, according to Schvaneveldt, is training well.

Schvaneveldt has indicated that The Incredible Dash, Ronas Sound, Blazing High, Ligigation and Mollie Six also will start in the Directors Trials.

Invitations to the trials were extended only to horses that finished in the top three in a Grade I stake, first or second in a Grade II stake, or first in a Grade III stake. Other probable starters include IB Quick, Skirt Chasin Alibi, Do Ya Disco, The Money Crunch and Outlasting.

Surprisingly absent will be world champion Down With Debt. She recently returned from Retama Park, where she finished eighth in the AQHA Challenge Championship after stumbling at the start and losing a clear path during the race.

“She came back good, but she’s tired and it’s too quick for her to go again,” trainer Charlie Bloomquist said. “She had the [Los Alamitos] Invitational Championship, then the trip to Texas and then the trip back. It’s just too close.”

Bloomquist also said that last year’s champion 2-year-old filly, Ah Sigh, will not start in the Champion of Champions, even though she has an automatic berth. Ah Sigh, who ran a close second in the Southern California Derby last weekend, will aim for the Golden State Derby on Dec. 15.

“She ran fine, but she’s got to run better than that to go in the Champion of Champions,” Bloomquist said. “To win the Champion of Champions, she’s got to run faster than that, and 40 yards further.”

Refrigerator, Avison, My Debut, Special Phoebe, Higher Goals and Meter Me Gone have already earned automatic berths in the Champion of Champions, to be run Dec. 17.

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Los Alamitos Notes

Brotherly will try to prove that his Breeders Marathon Classic victory was no fluke in the $60,000 Marathon Handicap Friday night. Brotherly will be carrying 125 pounds, only one less than high weight Speedy Lunch. Other nominees are Miami Prince, Culprit, Firstdown Touchdown, Rapid Champ, Mr Diddy Wa Diddy, Red Smoothie and Supply Sider, among others.