Southern California Derby Qualifiers

Ready For It, a California-bred son of Favorite Cartel trained by Monty Arrossa for owner Junior's Quarter Horses, is the fastest qualifier to the December 22, $158,150 Southern California Derby (G2) at Los Alamitos Racecourse.

Breaking from outside post 7 on Sunday, Ready For It won the third of four 400-yard trials by three-quarters of a length in :19.787. Jesus Ayala rode the gelding.

Ready For It was bred by Ed Allred, and he was a $162,000 yearling purchase at the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

“He’s a super class horse,” said Arrossa of Ready For It. “He ran a great race tonight. I knew the outside would be a good spot for him. He broke well and ran well."

A two-time stakes winner in California, Ready For It has won five of his 12 races and has earned $83,774, of which $62,764 has been pocketed from seven starts this season. The bay gelding is out of Up For It, a homebred Kiddy Up mare who won the '13 Governor's Cup Futurity (RG2).

Arrossa sent out the four fastest qualifiers, including Foosea, Stanley Cartel, and SC Time To Run. Foosea and SC Time To Run race for Dunn Ranch, while Stanley Cartel is campaigned by Dunn Ranch and Weetona Stanley.

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

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