Jones Has Several Shots at Burke

For all of the victories Paul Jones has had at Los Alamitos, there is at least one race that has escaped the quarter horse track’s dominant trainer.

Jones has yet to win the Ed Burke Million Futurity, a Grade 1 stakes for 2-year-olds at 350 yards that will be run for the 55th time tonight. In the past, the Burke has also been called the Pomona Futurity and the PCQHRA Futurity.

The Burke, which will be worth $1.145 million this year, is the first leg of the Los Alamitos Bonanza. If a horse is able to sweep the Burke, the Golden State Million Futurity on Nov. 4 and the Los Alamitos Million Futurity on Dec. 9, his connections receive a $1-million bonus.

Jones, the leading trainer at Los Alamitos for seven consecutive years, will saddle half of the Burke field. He had five of the 10 fastest qualifiers when trials were held June 4. Wave Carver, a full brother to 2004 2-year-old champion Ocean Runaway, One Corona, Corona Crystal, Christie Jo Dash and Fishing In Chivato will be Jones’ representatives. Unbeaten in two starts, Wave Carver, who will break from the inside post, is the 5-2 favorite on Ed Burgart’s morning line.

The fastest qualifier and 7-2 second choice is Identity Theft, who won his trial in 17.425 seconds despite racing erratically in his first start under the lights. The New Mexico bred started his career with two races at Sunland Park for owners Mike Abraham and Leslie and Pierre Amestoy and trainer Mike Joiner. Joiner will also send out unbeaten Fishers Tale, who drew post 10.

G.R. Carter, who rode both 2-year-olds in the trials, has opted for Fishers Tale. Juan Vazquez will ride Identity Theft.

The field is completed by Two Corona Special, a full brother to One Corona, Finding Nemo and Higher Fire.

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Despite being fractious before the start, Be A Bono, the defending world champion quarter horse, won the $134,800 Vessels Maturity on Friday night.

Owned by breeder Spencer Childers and trained by Dan Francisco, the 4-year-old son of Bono Jazz broke well from his inside post after his earlier antics, then held off a fast-finishing Brookstone Bay to win for the ninth time in 12 lifetime outings.

Ridden by Carter, Be A Bono paid $4 as the even-money favorite and ran the 400 yards in 19.57 seconds. With the win, Be A Bono earned a spot in the $500,000 Champion of Champions in December.