Page 12 - January 2022

TRACK CHATTER
THE MONTH IN REVIEW
by Jennifer K. Hancock
LOS ALAMITOS RACECOURSE 2022 MEET
The track’s 2022 stakes schedule projects purses of more than $11.3 million and will be topped by the 50th running of the 440- yard $750,000 Champion of Champions-G1, the sport’s richest and most prestigious race for older horses. A total of 77 stakes are on tap and will include California’s richest horse race for any breed, the Dec. 11 $1.8 million- est. Los Alamitos Two-Million Futurity-G1.
Other major futurities on Los Alamitos’ schedule include the June 19 $1 million-est. Ed Burke Million Futurity-G2, and the
Oct. 30 $1 million-est. Golden State Million Futurity-G1.
Los Alamitos’ stakes schedule for aged runners kicks off with the Grade 1 400- yard Brad McKinzie Winter Championship in February. It continues with the July 3 $150,000 Vessels Maturity-G1, the Aug. 28 $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap-G1, and the Oct. 8 $125,000 Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Championship-G1.
The track’s schedule will also feature three stakes with purses of $100,000 or more for fillies and mares – the 400- yard $100,000 Charger Bar Stakes-G1 on Jan. 2, the inaugural $100,000 Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes on June 12, and
the 400-yard $125,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1 on Sept. 18.
Los Alamitos will also host the third running of the $500,000-est. Los Alamitos Oaks for 3-year-old fillies on March 26. The track’s richest derby, the 400-yard $1 million-est. Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1, will be run Nov. 6.
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TRAINER MIKE ROBBINS RETIRING AT END OF 2022
Mike Robbins, a three-time Champion of Champions winning trainer, wrapped up his Los Alamitos career in style, as his trainee A Dash Of Sign, owned by Reliance Ranches LLC, posted a strong 1/2-length victory in the Grade 2, $150,600 Southern California Derby on the Los Alamitos meet’s closing night on Dec. 19.
Robbins began training in 1978 and enjoyed national success with big stars like AQHA World Champions Sgt Pepper Feature, Dashs Dream and Special Leader. The 72-year-old trainer and his wife, Vikki, will head to Oklahoma, with plans for Robbins
to be stabled at Remington Park, Ruidoso Downs and Lone Star before retiring from training at the end of 2022.
“I just woke up one day I was 72,” Robbins said with a laugh. “I’m going to train another year. I’ll train through 2022 and then hang it up. I’ll find something after that. I’ll stay in the horse business some way or another. I’ll have to find something to do to keep me busy. Some of the other horses that are in the Two Million and Golden State Million, they may come here next year, but they’ll have to be special to bring them. They’ll have to do really well as juveniles.”
Sent off at 10-1 odds, A Dash Of Sign provided a grand finale for Robbins at Los Alamitos, as the filly bred by The Mixer Ranch broke sharply from post number six, opened a 3/4- length lead and continued strongly from there to win by 1/2-length. Ridden by Jonathan Roman, A Dash Of Sign covered the 400 yards in :19.658 on the way
to earning a first-place check of $63,252. The filly improved her earnings to $178,488.
“She’s so easy to train,” Robbins said. “Not alotyouhavetodotoher.Youcandotoo much with her and kind of confuse her. She’s pretty good sized. She’s the last horse I had here at Los Alamitos. It’s quite a special deal to win with her tonight.”
Roman has been a key part of Robbins’ operation at Los Alamitos for most of 2021. He’s piloted A Dash Of Sign in each of her last five starts.
2022 DATES APPROVED FOR INDIANA GRAND
The Indiana Horse Racing Commission met Dec. 6 at Indiana Grand and approved racing dates for the 2022 racing season. Indiana Grand will host a total of 127 rac- ing days with 12 Saturdays set aside for live action. Racing is set to get underway April 19 and conclude Nov. 23, 2022.
“We have established a great spot for
our racing cards during the week and
wanted to keep those intact, but we also wanted to accommodate our local racing
fans with some Saturday racing cards,” said Eric Halstrom, Vice President and General Manager of Racing. “We feel our racing schedule offers a great balance that will appeal to a wide range of racing fans in 2022. We want to thank both the Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing organizations for their input and assistance with finalizing the request for dates.”
A total of six days are dedicated to Quarter Horse racing, with an additional day set aside for the AQHA Bank of America Challenge Championships coming to Indiana Oct. 22.
The final Saturday of racing is set for Oct. 29, featuring Indiana Champions Day. The event will play host to 10 stakes races with purses exceeding $1 million. The afternoon card showcases the top Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse athletes in the state surrounded by numer- ous giveaways, contests, and promotions.
Indiana Grand will also offer Monday holiday racing programs for Memorial Day May 30, and July 4. The racing season will conclude Nov. 23 with a special racing pro- gram the day before Thanksgiving. For more information on Indiana Grand’s 20th season of Thoroughbred and Quarter Horse racing, visit www.indianagrand.com.
10 SPEEDHORSE January 2022