Straw Flying Dash Makes a Big Impression

There was one exceptional performance during the eight trials for the $436,000 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity last Saturday night.

Straw Flying Dash, a gelded son of Strawfly Special, won his heat by 2 1/2 lengths while running the 350 yards in 17.38 seconds. It was easily the fastest qualifying time and the best by a 2-year-old at the distance at Los Alamitos.

Owned by Micah Leslie and Link Newcomb and trained by Dan Francisco, Straw Flying Dash is now perfect in three starts. He will be favored in the Burke, which will be run July 27.

The rest of the qualifiers for the Grade I are: Special Queen SA, Dashnlitia, Morning Snow, Deefirst, Suzy Cartel, A Royal Of Class, Just Think, Red Lipstick and That Giver.

Like Straw Flying Dash, Red Lipstick is undefeated. Owned by the Vinewood Farms of George, Louis and Michael Lucas and trained by R.C. Howell, Red Lipstick, a daughter of Corona Cartel, won by three-quarters of a length Saturday night for her fourth victory. She completed the 350 yards in 17.76 under jockey Steve Fuller.

The picks: 1. Hempen Sun. 2. Pass The Bolgers. 3. Evolution One. 4. World Of Fun. 5. Bolt Ta Fame. 6. Go Meter Go. 7. Signed Corona. 8. KR Sir Lopesalot.

Four! Use Straw Poll and Hempen Sun in the first, Synful Bounty and Pass The Bolgers in the second, Evolution One and A Campus Chic in the third and single World Of Fun in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Special Fly Bye had trouble in his latest and could rebound in the seventh for trainer Donna McArthur..

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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