Derby Trials Will Keep Trainer Jones Busy

Nearly half of the 21 3-year-olds running in tonight’s Southern California Derby Trials will be back for the final Dec. 14.

The 10 fastest qualifiers in the three trials will qualify for the $155,950 Derby at 400 yards.

Trainer Paul Jones, who won it a year ago with Agouti, will run eight horses, beginning with Deefirst, Strawberry Dash -- the only horse ever to have beaten Ab What A Runner -- and Babe With Rhythm in the first trial.

Jones will have Be Real Quick, Coronas Prospect and I Ought To Be First in the second trail. Stel Corona and Fine Wines will run for Jones in the third trial.

Among the horses opposing the Jones trio in the first trial is Meteoric. Owned by Dutch Masters III and trained by Lin Melton, Meteoric was the runner-up in last year’s Los Alamitos Million.

The picks: 1. Sah Woosh. 2. Follow The Cash. 3. Vikingsholm Castle. 4. Silk Slide 5. Quick Willy. 6. Crystalaire. 7. Meteoric. 8. I Ought To Be First. 9. Fine Wines. 10. A Megadash.

Four! Sah Woosh in the first, Follow The Cash, Sign N Dash and Meter My Memory in the second, Vikingsholm Castle and Jaming Jammer in the third and Silk Slide, Czubukon and B B Zell in the fourth.

Shots in the dark: Doinitforpleasure likes the track and could fire fresh for trainer Jesus Nunez in the sixth. Dashing Scarlett is improving for trainer Dennis Ekins in the ninth.

Post time: 6:30 p.m.

On the Net: For entries and results, visit: www.latimes.com/horseracing.