Maria De Jesus Angulo's Senior Solo rallied from fifth to first on the way to posting the fastest qualifying time to the $170,000 Southern California Derby Friday at Los Alamitos. Senior Solo, the top seller at the 2003 Pacific Coast Yearling and Mixed Stock Sale, defeated Perfect First by a neck while covering the 400 yards in :19.50 in the first of three trials. The horses with the 10 fastest times will return for the final on Friday, December 16.

Saddled by Paul Jones and ridden by Alex Bautista, Senior Solo was paying his first visit to the winner's circle since June 30. Things didn't look too promising early on for the half-brother of 2001 All American Futurity winner Ausual Suspect, as he was more than 3/4 lengths behind First Down Runner at the start. But he slowly began to eat away at First Down Runner's lead before turning it on in the final 110 yards. First Down Runner ended up crossing the wire fifth but was moved one spot following the disqualification of Get Down Perry from fourth to ninth. Get Down Perry did not interfere with First Down Runner.

Bred by Alan and Denise Tyler of Bangor, California, Senior Solo is out of Tylers First Down, a stakes-winning daughter of all-time leading sire First Down Dash. A winner of four of 18 races, including the 1996 QHBC Juvenile Classic (G3) at Los Alamitos, Tylers First Down earned $83,047 in her career. Senior Solo has now won three of 11 career starts.

The first trial produced four of the top five qualifiers to the Southern California finale. Trained by Jesus Nunez for Jose Ramon Sandoval, Perfect First posted the second fastest qualifying time of :19.52 following his runner-up effort to Senior Solo. Dutch Masters III's Jumpn finished as the third fastest qualifier with a time of :19.58 after running a neck behind Perfect First. Ed Calvert's First Down Runner ended up as the fifth fastest qualifier.

Dan or Lisa McMahon's Blazin Fire stole the show in a star-filled second heat, as the Tennessee-bred filly led from start to finish on the way to fourth fastest qualifying time of :19.60. Blazin Fire, who has now hit the board in nine of her 12 starts this year, will be making her seventh stakes appearance of the season when runs in the Southern California Derby. A finalist to the Grade 2 La Primera Del Ano Derby, Blazin Fire ran second in the First Place Queen Handicap on October 2 and third in the Grade 3 Vandy's Flash Handicap and Grade 3 John Deere California Distaff Challenge. She ran third in the November 5 Sooner Trailer Stakes as well. Dennis Means piloted the homebred by This Snow Is Royal for trainer Donna McArthur.

Aries Man and Modem, the second and third place finishers in this race, posted the sixth and seventh fastest times. Aries Man won the Ghost & Goblins Stakes on October 30 and was second in the Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby, while Modem defeated older horses in the Grade 3 California Breeders Sprint Stakes on July 30. Lindas Dasher, the PCQHRA Champion 2-Year-Old Filly last season, finished fourth in this trial and qualified with the 10th fastest time. With $263,650 in her bank account, Lindas Dasher will be the richest 3-year-old in the final field.

Ed Allred and Johnny T.L. Jones' Gulfstream Five won the third and final heat by neck over Beau Brummel CA. Gulstream Five has won five of 19 starts and earned $213,927 in his career. The gray gelding by Fishers Dash has now qualified to seven graded stakes in his career. He covered the distance in :19.74. Alejandro Luna piloted him for trainer Kelly Lewis.

Beau Brummel, who finished third behind Apollitical Time and Ocean Runaway in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby, was the ninth fastest qualifier with a time of :19.78. Saddled by John Bassett for Gianni Franco Samaja, Beau Brummel SA also ran in the Grade 1 Golden State Derby and Restricted Grade 1 Governor's Cup Derby.