It Might Be Worthwhile to Check Him Out

Can horses from the sire Hennessy win two derbies in eight days?

Before Johannesburg seeks his eighth victory in nine tries in the Kentucky Derby, Check Him Out will try to win the $156,800 El Primero Del Ano Derby tonight at Los Alamitos.

Owned by Zory Kuzyk and Wayne Lukas and trained by Lukas’ wife Laura, Check Him Out was the fastest qualifier for the 400-yard El Primero Del Ano, covering the distance in 19.86 seconds in a trial two weeks ago.

The winner of the Ed Burke Memorial Futurity in 2001, Check Him Out will be seeking his second graded stakes victory in the El Primero Del Ano. Jacky Martin, the leading rider in quarter horse history with some $34 million in purse earnings, has the mount in the Grade II.

The field for the Derby is completed by Dont Dink With Me, who was impressive in his first race of the year in another of the trials, A Tac First, Azure Classic Star, Lear, Harley Man, Prep Schooler, Harbor Beach, Chicks Rapidash and Dreams Of His Own.

The picks: 1. EG Special Ways. 2. Icey Gambler. 3. Biscotti. 4. George’s Hope. 5. Orthopod. 6. A Dash Of Romance. 7. Check Him Out. 8. Fast As Sound. 9. Jazz For Dough. 10. Hitarun.

Four! Let’s use EG Special Ways, Valerio and Lookin And Dashin in the first, single Icey Gambler in the second, Biscotti, Mighty Smooth Dash and Western Waltz in the third and George’s Hope, Brite Jaz and Extraordinary Cop in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Desert Mountain shortens up in the fifth and gets a new jockey, Alex Bautista. Ononandon returns from a lengthy layoff in the sixth for trainer Dennis Givens.

Post Time: 7:15 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results from Los Alamitos, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing/