THREE TIMES THE TOLL SECOND FASTEST FROM TEN ED BURKE MILLION TRIALS
LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JUNE 7, 2009— The second fastest qualifier to the $1,000,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity(G1) came out of the eighth trial as Gianni Franco Samaja's Three Times The Toll covered the 350 yards in :17.44.
A total of 82 horses competed in the 10 trials to the first leg of the $1 million Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza. The Bonanza is the track's version of the Triple Crown. The Ed Burke, Golden State Million and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity make up the Bonanza.
The Ed Burke final will be contested on June 20th.
Sired by TRES SEIS, Three Times The Toll's mother is First Down Toll, who broke her maiden at the age of two with an outstanding 300-yard time of :15.14. Three Times The Toll displayed similar talent and speed in her trial win.
"Gianni was the co-owner of the fastest qualifier to the Ed Burke Million last year in Fantastic Corona Jr and he's got the second fastest qualifier this year in Three Times The Toll," said Samaja's agent, Vince Genco.
"Gianni bred both of these horses (Vessels Stallion Farm is a co-breeder of Three Times The Toll) so you know he's doing something right. You know, another one of Gianni's mare is Special Queen SA, who ran many times against Prima LD. She beat us but we also beat her."
Special Queen SA's mother, Queen Of Appeals, and First Down Toll have very similar breedings. They're both First Down Dash daughters out of Tolltac broodmares.
"It's fun to see this next generation of runners of LD Fire and Three Times The Toll now prepare to compete against each other," Genco added.
"An effort like the one that Three Times The Toll just posted will definitely keep your spirits up. I remember a couple of years ago (Benny Rosset) had the 11th fastest qualifier with the filly Stylish Jess Br, so it is nice to see Gianni's filly make it to the Ed Burke final. When you see a filly run that fast of a time in a later trial that really makes you feel good."
A graduate of the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, where she was repurchased for $60,000, Three Times The Toll's victory came at the expense of Kindergarten Futurity winner Twin Spires, who was losing for the first in four career starts. Twin Spires had the tough luck of finishing the night with the 11th fastest qualifying time.
Paul Jones saddled Three Times The Toll, who is now two-for-two in her career. Ramon Sanchez piloted the bay filly.
The complete list of qualifiers is as follows; LD Fire (:17.33), Three Times The Toll (:17.44), Streakin Laquinta (:17.475), Tools Of Fire (:17.485), Fire Specialist (:17.49), Rocco Rojo (:17.56), Mollys Cartel (:17.59), Shining First Dash (:17.60), My Sexy Lady (:17.615) and Dashingfordestiny (:17.625).
Vessels Stallion Farm's home-bred Faster Car, a TRES SEIS filly out of Speed On The Lead, by First Down Dash, qualified to the Ed Burke Juvenile.
Trained by Christopher O'Dell and ridden by Cesar DeAlba the filly was clocked in :17.705 seconds for the 350 yards.
