El Primero del Ano Derby Preview

Ten sophomore colts and geldings, led by fastest qualifier Train B Taka, are entered in Sunday's 400-yard, $235,600 El Primero Del Año Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos.

Train B Taka is trained by Marc Jungers for owners Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola, and the Tungsten Racing Partnership. A $73,000 purchase at the 2023 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale, the stakes-winning gray son of Freighttrain B is coming off of a three-quarter length victory in the first of four trials on March 2, one of his four wins in five starts at Los Alamitos.

Train B Taka has earned $125,795 from nine races in California and New Mexico, and his resume includes a second-place finishes in last year's West Texas Futurity (G2) at Sunland Park, and the February 15 Los Alamitos Winter Derby (G1). The gelding drew post 3 and will be ridden by Edwin Escobedo.

"He really enjoys Los Alamitos,” Jungers said. “He’s a California-bred and he’s fit well here.

"He broke a little tardy (in the Winter Derby)," the trainer added.  "If he had run (his El Primero trial race in the Winter final, we may have won it. Who knows? We’re here, and we’re excited and glad to have another shot.”

Click here for a more detailed preview.

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