Southern California Derby Qualifiers

Southern California Derby Qualifiers

Dont Sass KVN tops the qualifiers to the December 17, $162,700 final at Los Alamitos.

Dont Sass KVN. PHOTO: Amber Mendez

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Dont Sass KVN, a son of champion KVN Corona trained by Paul Jones for owner Bradbury Racing, is the fastest qualifier to the December 16, $162,700 Southern California Derby (G2).

On Sunday at Los Alamitos, Dont Sass KVN won the last of three 400-yard trials by 1 1/2 lengths in :19.850. Victor Salazar rode the Utah-bred colt.

Dont Sass KVN was bred by McColee Land and Livestock, and he was purchased by Bradbury Racing for $57,000 at the 2021 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale. The colt was coming off of a third-place finish, 1 1/4 lengths behind winner Good Wagon SA, in the November 4, 400-yard Town Policy Stakes.

"He ran a really nice race tonight," said Jones of Dont Sass KVN. "This horse has shown a lot of talent since he was a 2-year-old. His issue has always been the gates.

"We’ve gotten him kind of quiet in the gates," the trainer added. "He’s really starting to mind his manners and has matured. He broke good tonight. He lugged out a little bit, but he was clear and was running fast."

Dont Sass KVN was one of three 3-year-olds qualified by Jones, who has won the Southern California Derby final a stakes-record seven times. The colt has won six of 17 races in California and New Mexico, and he has banked $72,605.

Click here for a complete list of Southern California Derby qualifiers. Click here for a more detailed recap of Sunday's trials.

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