First Sovereign Dies in Accident at Los Alamitos

First Sovereign, the leading 2-year-old quarter horse at Los Alamitos Race Course, was killed early Tuesday in a freak workout accident.

Shortly after being turned loose near the 1/4-mile chute, the Blane Schvaneveldt-trained colt made a left turn and bolted into the inside rail.

According to witnesses, First Sovereign, who flipped over the rail after crashing into it, suffered massive chest injuries and was declared dead at the scene.

Exercise rider Jose Perez, who was thrown when the horse hit the rail, landed on his shoulder and was taken to Los Alamitos General Hospital as a precaution.

First Sovereign’s regular rider, jockey Roman Figueroa, was not aboard because of injuries he suffered in a spill at the track last Friday.

By virtue of victories in the Kindergarten and Ed Burke futurities this year, First Sovereign’s owners, Jay and Polly Parsons, could have won a $1-million bonus if he won December’s $1.25-million Los Alamitos Million.