Weekend could be big and rich for Jones, Joiner

A pair of Grade I races are the highlights of the weekend at Los Alamitos.

Wave Carver, who has won five of seven in 2006, is the 3-year-old to beat in the $700,000 Los Alamitos Super Derby tonight. The 400-yard race is the world’s richest derby for quarter horses.

Paul Jones trains Wave Carver and he also has two 2-year-olds set to go in the $1,223,800 Golden State Million Futurity on Saturday night.

In the 400-yard Futurity, Fdd Dynasty will try to remain unbeaten in his fifth start for a partnership and trainer Mike Joiner. The First Down Dash colt is one of three Joiner will run in the Futurity, joining Jess Charming and Have No Doubt.

The winner of the Super Derby earns a berth in the $600,000 Champion Of Champions on Dec. 9.

Besides Wave Carver, who won his qualifying trial for the Super Derby by 3 1/2 lengths on Oct. 20, Jones will also start Redwood Creek, Perrys Queen Bug and Volcom, who has won four of seven this year and nine of 14 overall.

Joiner has a chance to sweep the Grade I races in the next two days.

In addition to Fdd Dynasty, he has top contender Fishers Tale in the Derby tonight. A Fishers Dash gelding owned by Robert Parra, Fishers Tale has won three in a row and four of five in 2006. He will have Saul Ramirez Jr. aboard.

Finding Nemo and Higher Fire are also in the Derby field and both are trying to recapture their best form.

The two 3-year-olds, who combined to earn more than $1.7 million in 2005, are winless in nine starts this year. Finding Nemo is 0 for 4 and Higher Fire is 0 for 5.

bob.mieszerski@latimes.com