Narrowing the Field for El Primero Del Ano

Jockey Ramon Sanchez, who was injured in a spill Feb. 23, is scheduled to return to racing this evening.

Sanchez will be aboard Sum Special Strawfly for trainer Paul Jones in the first of two trials for the $144,000 El Primero Del Ano Derby. There will be two 400-yard trials for the Derby, which will be run April 25, and the 10 fastest qualifiers will advance to the finals.

Besides Sum Special Strawfly, who won four of 11 last year and just missed winning the Golden State Futurity, Jones will be represented in the trials by Corona Captain.

A gelded son of Corona Cartel owned by Carol and John Sperry, Corona Captain has won two in a row and the way he has pulled clear in those victories suggests he will enjoy the additional yardage. Joe Badilla Jr. retains the mount.

The picks: 1. Jusred. 2. Pencilmein. 3. Begin The Begin. 4. Reasonforrejection. 5. Laico Cartel. 6. Bluduino. 7. Sum Special Strawfly. 8. Corona Captain. 9. Lace And Lies.

Four! Use Bluduino and Crocodile Hunter in the sixth, Sum Special Strawfly and Snowy Substance in the seventh, single Corona Captain in the eighth and the Feet Of Flames entry, Corona Clique, Lace And Lies, Dream Dollars and Beechers Miss Priss in the ninth.

Shots in the dark: Not For Long gets jockey Alex Bautista for his bow in the second. Comair Cs is back in with maidens in the third.

Post time: 7:15 p.m.

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