LOS ALAMITOS : This Field Has Clear Favorite

Moo Vin First set the standard for the El Primero Del Ano Derby when he won the first 400-yard trial in 20.04 seconds. The Royal Prince, the next-fastest qualifier and winner of the second heat Friday night, ran a 20.18, nearly a length slower.

The 10 fastest horses will compete in the $103,500 El Primero Del Ano Derby, a Grade I race for 3-year-old quarter horses, on May 27.

Moo Vin First, a California-bred son of First Down Dash, is a neck short of perfect in three starts. And many believe his record should include one more victory.

Last December, trainer Charles Bloomquist confidently watched Moo Vin First being loaded into the gate for the $200,000 Grade I Golden State Futurity. But then two horses broke through the gate and Jumping Tac Flash flipped in the gate beside Moo Vin First.

“To keep him from getting hurt, they led him through the front of the gate,” Bloomquist said. “They did all they could to hold onto him, but he just broke free.”

Moo Vin First and Jumping Tac Flash were scratched, and Time For Royal Cash won the race.

“It wasn’t (Moo Vin First’s) fault,” Bloomquist said. “It was truly frustrating. He doesn’t make many mistakes. He’s good in the gate and he doesn’t use up energy unnecessarily. He won’t beat himself.”

And with his 0.14-second edge in the qualifying times, Moo Vin First’s challengers will have to improve dramatically to beat him.

Jockey John Creager rode Moo Vin First, then qualified Bloomquist’s Mimis Dash in the second heat. In the El Primero Del Ano Derby, he will ride Moo Vin First.

“If he runs his race, he should win,” Creager said. “But they’re all dangerous. Going down the list, they’re all good horses. Even Rainbow Sun (the seventh-fastest qualifier) just won a stakes race.”

The 10 qualifiers for the El Primero Del Ano Derby and their times: Moo Vin First, 20.04 seconds; The Royal Prince, 20.18; Kid Gris, 20.24; Down South Dasher, 20.26; Mimis Dash, 20.31; Unreal Deal, 20.33; Rainbow Sun, 20.38;, A Cash Request, 20.44; Master Woodstock, 20.45, and Military Issue, who won a draw with Citation Five after both posted times of 20.50.

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Suzanne and Rick Flammer accepted the 1993 divisional award for their 3-year-old filly, Orzonna, at the Arabian Racing Assn. of California’s banquet, then watched her wrap up an easy stakes victory a few hours later.

In the first four furlongs of the Equest International California Distaff, Orzonna stayed within a length of the leader, Bits And Pieces, a front-runner who had won her last race by 19 1/2 lengths. As the seven-horse field rounded the final turn, Bits And Pieces faded quickly, and Orzonna continued to surge. The Polish-bred Orzonna won easily, with Fryga second and Tu third.

Trained by Felix Payne, Orzonna has six victories and a second place in seven starts. Henry Garcia rode her in all but one race.

“This is the first time we’ve really asked her and we weren’t really sure of the foreign mare,” Payne said, referring to the French-bred Vanessa Du Loup, who had been undefeated. “I based my strategy against her, but then Bits And Pieces caused me a lot of grief early.”

Bits And Pieces wound up last, and Vanessa Du Loup never came close to the winner, finishing fourth.

“This race turned out a lot easier to do than to prepare for,” Payne said.

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Even after Magna Terra Smoky disappointed bettors as a 3-5 favorite Friday night, no one was surprised Saturday that he was voted 1993 horse of the year by the Arabian Racing Assn. of California.

Trained by Barbara Jagoda, Magna Terra Smoky has been voted California horse of the year in each of the past four years. In 74 starts, he has 33 victories, 23 seconds and $188,522 in earnings.

Magna Terra Smoky, carrying high weight of 126 pounds, failed to make up ground in the stretch of the Equest International California Open on Friday and finished 1 1/2 lengths behind Styx.

“I think the weight got to him,” jockey Richard Pfau said. “I was waiting for (Styx) to tire at the sixteenth (pole) since he didn’t have a start this year, but he never quit.”

The David Williams-trained and Roger Lang-owned Styx, who scored his seventh victory, is being pointed toward the California Arabian Cup on Sept. 25.