Badilla to Ride Mini Rock in Del Ano

Jockey Joe Badilla, Jr. was aboard Mini Rock and Corona Perfection when those 3-year-old fillies each won a trial for the $161,700 La Primera Del Ano Derby two weeks ago at Los Alamitos.

He will ride Mini Rock in the Derby this evening. A California-bred daughter of Chicks Beduino owned by Jay Parsons and trained by Blane Schvaneveldt, Mini Rock was the fastest qualifier for the La Primera Del Ano, winning by a half-length in 19.99 seconds for 400 yards.

It was her fourth win in 10 starts and she will break from the outside in the field of 10 in the Grade II Derby, the ninth of 10 races on the card.

Owned by Vinewood Farms and trained by R C Howell, Corona Perfection won her heat in 20.01 seconds, edging Babe On The Beach by a nose. It was the Oklahoma bred’s third win in seven races and she will be ridden for the first time by Jacky Martin.

In addition to the top qualifiers and Babe On The Beach, the field is completed by Hollywood La Jolla, Toogoodtobeforgoten, Best To Be First, She Reigns, Sport Report, Miss Kipty Yawl and Sister Ta.

The picks: 1. BW Rare Lil Goddess. 2. Rubin’s Pride. 3. Daring Dame. 4. Got No Whoa. 5. White Rule. 6. Heza Quick Dash. 7. BDR Bug On The Dash. 8. Come On Dasher. 9. Mini Rock. 10. Rebel Eyes.

Four! In the seventh, let’s use BDR Bug On The Dash, Daves Best Man and Belle Of Tara, Come On Dasher and Proudest Slugger in the eighth, single Mini Rock in the ninth and A Big Shot Of Brandy, Classic Royal Secret and Rebel Eyes in the 10th.

Shots in the dark: It’s Sinful is dropped in class, gets Lasix and switches to Badilla in the third. Aegeans Effort debuts for trainer Elmer January in the fourth.

Post Time: 6:30 p.m.

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