Fast Field Set for Governor’s Cup

The $357,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity will highlight California Champions Night Saturday at Los Alamitos Race Course. Champions Night will feature 12 stakes races totaling $915,000.

The Governor’s Cup Futurity, the richest race of any breed for California-bred runners, includes 10 of the fastest 2-year-old quarter horses in the nation. Heading the field is Your First Moon. The Vessels Stallion Farm horse posted the fastest qualifying time in the futurity trials on June 8 and has won three of her first four outings.

Rare News, trained by D. Wayne and Laura Lukas, and Kindergarten Futurity winner Don’t Dink With Me are also in the field.

Another Lukas horse, Blue Grass Bounce, is the top qualifier for the $162,000 Governor’s Cup Derby, a 400-yard race for 3-year-olds. Laura Lukas will ride Blue Grass Bounce, which could get pushed by American Quarter Horse Assn. champion Secret Card and Make It Anywhere.

The $150,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Handicap for 3-year-olds and up will feature world champion A Ransom. A Ransom has not raced since winning the Champion of Champions on Dec. 17. Meddlin In Money, the MBNA California Challenge champion, and Hawkinson, the Los Alamitos Winter Championship winner, could challenge A Ransom.

Sign of Lanty and Heza Sand Trap head the field in the $25,000 Marathon Stakes, a 870-yard race for 3-year-olds and up. The first race begins at 6:30 with the California Freshman Stakes. The Governor’s Cup Futurity will be the 11th race.