Filly Closer to $1 Million

Morning Snow is two-thirds of the way to a $1-million bonus after scoring an easy win in the $436,000 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

More than two months after her victory in the Kindergarten, the 2-year-old This Snow Is Royal filly and 5-1 second choice came out strongly from the inside post under jockey Sam Thompson and went on to win by about two lengths in a rapid 17.35 seconds for the 350 yards.

In winning for the fifth time in six starts for owners Charles and Dixie Patterson and trainer Donna McArthur, Morning Snow had her task made easier when heavily-favored Straw Flying Dash was eliminated at the break.

The fastest qualifier for the Burke and perfect in his first three races for owners Micah Leslie and Link Newcomb, Straw Flying Dash hopped in the air at the start under jockey Joe Badilla, Jr., effectively ending his chances.

With her victory, Morning Snow became the first horse to sweep the first two legs of the Los Alamitos Bonanza. If she wins the Los Alamitos Million on Dec. 13, she will earn a $1 million bonus.

“It was pretty easy,” Thompson said.

“She just pulled me the last part of the race. I knew we were going fast, but not that fast.”

Special Queen SA paid $17 to place and another longshot, Dashnlitia, was third.