February 5, 2010 - Since its very first running in 2004, the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes (not an official AQHA stakes) has proved to be the launching pad for the careers of some outstanding Quarter Horse runners. Over the years, horses like Grade 1 winner LDS Dash For Dylan, El Primero Del Ano Derby (G2) winner Royal Proclamation, and champion Little Bit Of Baja have competed in the Maiden Stakes. Will another top star emerge out of these year’s trials?

Saturday’s trials have lured 50 runners competing in a total of six trials. Each trial will feature 8-9 runners, so the evening action figures to full of excitement. Nine races are on tap with races two through seven being the Maiden Stakes trials.

Felix Gonzalez’s Arctic Ocean is one of the top names in the trials based on his last couple of starts. The son of Ocean Runaway ran second to Forrest Fire in the trials to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (G1) last November, and while he didn’t make the field to the rich $2 million futurity final he was able to finish in a dead-heat for first in the $30,000 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational.

Another son of Ocean Runaway that could shine is Runaway Tyme. He was second in the $300,000 Kindergarten Futurity (G1) last May and most recently broke his maiden on January 2nd. He will be in action in the sixth trial.

Horses are eligible to compete in the Maiden Stakes trials if they are maidens as of December 1, 2009. There are 13 non-maidens in Saturday’s trials. The Maiden Stakes final will offer a $134,000 purse and will be held on Saturday, February 27.