Derby Simulcast, Futurity Highlight Busy Day

After presenting a simulcast of the Kentucky Derby this afternoon, Los Alamitos Race Course will host a big evening of its own with the trials of the Kindergarten Futurity tonight in Cypress.

The track has scheduled a season-high 12 races featuring 98 2-year-old quarter horses vying for 10 spots in the 300-yard final of the $392,900 futurity on May 19. The track will open its gates at 7:30 a.m. The first race from Churchill Downs is at 8:30 a.m. and the Derby is scheduled for 3:04 p.m. First post for the futurity trials is 6:30 p.m.

The Dutch Masters II partnership of James Streelman, who lives in Anaheim Hills, and Denny Boer will be attempting to win its second consecutive Kindergarten Futurity. It won last year with Champion Secret Card in a record 15.27 seconds. Dutch Masters III will have 10 horses in the trials, including three that have won this season, Sassy Smith, Holland Time and Best Arrangement.

The sixth heat might be the toughest with maiden winners Sassy Smith, Flying Special Bug and Fifth Avenue Dash drawing the same race.

Trainer Laura Lukas has a strong group of entries, including Hot As Hell, the $575,000 top seller at last year’s Vessels Schvaneveldt yearling sale, maiden winner Bobcat Bob and Rare News, which finished second to Flying Special Bug.

The Kindergarten Futurity is the first leg of the Los Alamitos Bonanza, which would pay $1 million to the connections of any horse that wins the Kindergarten, Ed Burke Memorial and Los Alamitos Million futurities.