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RACING NEWS
Charger Bar Handicap-G1
FAMOUS SHINING STAR
by Tracy Gantz
The 2023 Charger Bar Handicap-G1 at Los Alamitos had plenty of firsts. Run on the
first day of the new year, it was the first Grade 1 victory for jockey Erasmo Gasca, the first Charger Bar win for trainer Jose Flores, and the first graded stakes victory for Famous Shining Star.
Run over a sloppy track, the Charger Bar sported a field of eight after two scratches, including two-time Charger Bar winner and Champion Kiss Thru Fire.
Sent away at 17-1, Famous Shining Star popped out of
the gate on top for Gasca and dominated throughout the 400 yards. She scored by 3/4-length, stopping in :19.726, The filly earned a 91 speed index and the $48,000 winner’s share of the $100,000 purse.
“You feel happy after every single win, but to win one like this is a big thrill,” Gasca said in an interview
Southern California Derby-G2
BOONDARBIAN
by Tracy Gantz
Boondarbian gave trainer John Cooper the perfect retirement present by winning the $155,300 Southern California Derby-G2 at
Los Alamitos on Dec. 18. Boondarbian, going off at 11-1 after
qualifying the 2nd fastest to Stuck In Probate, the 7-5 favorite. Boondarbian broke from the gate perfectly in the 400-yard finals and flew
to the wire, leading at every call enroute to the wire. Stuck In Probate broke slightly inward and was charging at the finish,
but Boondarbian under Cruz Mendez held him off to win by a head in :19.683, earning a 94 speed index.
Earning the $65,226 winner’s share of the purse, boosting his earnings to $109,154. Boondarbian had previously run second in the 2022 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap and third in the 2021 Los Alamitos Wild West Futurity-G3.
“All I can say is that this is the way for me
to leave,” Cooper said in an interview with StallioneSearch. “It’s pretty emotional. I’ll miss it.” Cooper, 84, had announced that he would be retiring after the Dec. 18 Los Alamitos card, and he and his wife, Carol, were soon to leave California for their new home in Nampa, Idaho.
Owners Jerald & Lacie Davenport bred Boondarbian in Utah out of the winning and stakes-placed mare Splash Talk, who was 2nd in
the 2007 Elko County Fair Derby. Boondarbian is one of
2 winners from her 3 starters, the other winner, Hard To Get Out, ran second in the 2018 Sweetwater Wyoming Futurity.
Jerald Davenport and his friend David Payne owned Tolltac, the paternal grandsire of Splash Talk. They bought graded stakes-placed Katies Victory, who when bred
to Tolltac’s son Splash Bac produced Splash Talk.
Ruben Lozano piloted Stuck In Probate (Favorite Cartel-Fyrefly Jo), who was third in this year’s Town Policy Stakes, to second for owner Vic3tory LLC and trainer Valentin Zamudio.
Dasha Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Dasha Freda) finished third under jockey Jesus Ayala for trainer Jose Flores. He was bred by S-Quarter K LLC, which owns him with Robyn Gordon and Juan Humberto Moya. Dasha Dynasty won the 2022 Town Policy Stakes.
Completing the field were Apollitical J Streak (Apollitical Jess-Streak Of Sixes), Insider Information (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella), Conant Valley (One Famous Eagle-Cluster
Of Stars TB), Watch Out (Fly Thru The Fire-Look Her Over), Up The Ladder (Kiddy Up-Oh La Princess), and Whizkey Glasses (FDD Dynasty-Marys Southernpolicy). A Famous Ribbon was scratched.
186 SPEEDHORSE
January 2023
with StallioneSearch.com. “I don’t have the words to describe how happy I am right now.”
Famous Shining Star won the 2022 Virginia Hyland Stakes and Sound Dash Handicap. She placed second in the 2022 Dashingly Handicap, Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes and the Los Alamitos Distaff Challenge Stakes-G3. She also placed third in the 2022 Miss Princess Handicap-G2.
has produced seven winners from 12 starters, including Champion A Revenant, and three stakes placed runners.
Gentry Farms’ College Scandal (Coronas Leaving You-Fovee) finished second under jockey Diego Herrera for trainer Juan Aleman.
Edward and Theresa DeNike’s homebred Sweet Tess (Apollitical Jess-Separate Thoughts) ran third under jockey James Flores. Patricia Visscher trains the filly, who had most recently captured the Justanold Love Handicap on Nov. 5.
Rounding out the field were Sweet
Dasha Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Dasha Freda), Nymphette (Fly Thru The Fire-Nymph), Letty Cartel (Fast Prize Cartel-Letty Bail Regis Out), Jessapolliticalgirl (Apollitical Jess-Kirklyns Dynasty), and La Estrella Corona (Corona Czech-Shadow Lake TB). Kiss Thru Fire and Pattys Saint were scratched.
Johnny Trotter owns Famous Shining Star and bought her with Stan Sigman from breeder Julianna Hawn Holt for $250,000 at the 2019 Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale.
Holt bred Famous Shining Star in Texas from 2004 Rainbow Futurity-G1 winner Thewayouwantmetoo. She was a finalist in the 2005 Rainbow Derby-G1 and Ruidoso Derby-G1 and earned $327,953 during her racing career. She
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos Amber Mendez/Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.726 • si 91
Mr Jess Perry
One Famous Eagle
One Famous Lady
FAMOUS SHINING STAR, ‘18-m.
Mr Eye Opener
Thewayouwantmetoo
Hope And Glory
Los Alamitos
$155,300 • 400 yards :19.683 • si 94
FDD Dynasty
Jr Dynasty Mountain
Prissy B Panther
BOONDARBIAN, ‘19-g. Splash Bac
Splash Talk
Katies Victory