400-Yard Trials Lead to Golden State Derby

A couple of winning streaks will be on the line in tonight’s trials for the $207,800 Golden State Derby.

In the first of the two 400-yard trials, Last Shall Be First will be seeking her fourth consecutive win for owner Spencer Childers and trainer Dan Francisco. In the other race, Panther Mountain will go for his third in a row and eighth win in 12 starts for owner Guy Weimer and trainer Chuck Treece.

Eight were entered in each of the trials and the 10 fastest qualifiers will return for the Derby on Aug. 17.

A 3-year-old daughter of Strawfly Special, Last Shall Be First is perfect in 2002 and has been 1-2 in seven of nine in her career, earning over $136,000. Two of her wins have come at tonight’s distance.

Idle since Feb. 23, Panther Mountain has lost only once since coming to California last fall. He has five victories in six starts, and his only loss came when he was second to Agouti as the 7-10 favorite in the Cypress on Jan. 5. Eddie Aceves will ride him.

The picks: 1. Evil Lady. 2. Saszy. 3. Would She. 4. Favoritt. 5. Azore Best. 6. Drivers Seat. 7. Bacbac Overthewall. 8. Pecos Chicks. 9. Last Shall Be First. 10. Panther Mountain. 11. Farahon.

Four! Use Evil Lady and Mirobolant in the first, Saszy, Sweetkins and I Dream Of Flyin in the second, Would She and Truly A Lady in the third and Favoritt and the Knowntoman-Vissudd entry in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Cuantemplate is a firster debuting in a soft spot in the seventh for trainer John Cooper. Rubys Diggity Vet could improve second time out in the 11th and switches to leading rider Ramon Sanchez.

Post time: 6:30 p.m.

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