Page 184 - January 2022

RACING NEWS
A Ransom Handicap
DOC LAMB
by Tracy Gantz
When Doc Lamb became a stakes winner in the $25,000 A Ransom Handicap at Los Alamitos on Dec. 18, it was not his biggest payday. That occurred in 2020, when he earned $116,535 for finishing fifth in the Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1. Doc Lamb’s owner Howard Nichols earned even more in the 2021 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity when his horse Jess Being A Friend ran second to Bomb Cyclone to earn $341,670.
But any time a horse wins a stakes, it is a big deal, and Nichols was thrilled with Doc Lamb’s performance in the A Ransom Handicap. The gelding, ridden by Oscar Peinado, zipped to the front from the rail, and though drifting out a bit, he won wire-to-wire by a 1/2-length in :17.709 for 350 yards.
Jaime Gomez conditions Doc Lamb, who was winning his second race. The Mixer Ranch bred Doc Lamb in Oklahoma from their homebred mare Third Painted Sign. The mare has produced four winners in five starters, including stakes winner A Painted Dynasty.
Just A Dasha Hero (Valiant Hero-Dasha Freda), bred by S-Quarter K LLC, which owns him with Bland Farm Inv. and Robyn Gordon, finished second. Erasmo Gasca rode the gelding for trainer Jose Flores. Justa Dasha Hero won the 2021 Town Policy Stakes.
Other World (Foose-Celestial Being TB), owned by Victory LLC, trained by Valentin Zamudio, and ridden by Ramon Sanchez, ran third. The gelding won the 2021 Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap and Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders Stakes.
Completing the field were Garda Da Cash (Good Reason SA-Forever Bradgelina), Fallout (Favorite Cartel-Fall For It), Squid Word (Favorite Cartel-Tahma Hawk), Favorite Colossus (Favorite Cartel-Warm It Up), and Milan Red (Corona Cartel- Whatta Knockout).
First Down Dash Handicap
CHOCOLATITO
by Tracy Gantz
Chocolatito, a stakes winner for two years in a row, was looking to extend that streak to three in the $25,000 First Down Dash Handicap-G3 at
Los Alamitos on Dec. 18. Owned by Dr. Ed Allred, Chocolatito went off as the 3-2 second choice under jockey Jesus Ayala. He broke second behind Mental Error, and came on late to score by a head in :19.752 for 400 yards over the race favorite.
Scott Willoughby trains Chocolatito for Allred. In 2020, Chocolatito won the Vessels Maturity-G1, Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship-G1, and Kaweah Bar Handicap-G3, and in 2019 he won the Dillingham Handicap.
Dr. Steve Burns bred Chocolatito in California and sold him to Allred for $50,000 at the 2017 Los Alamitos Equine Sale. Chocolatito is out of the Burns homebred Enjoy The Walk, winner of the 2012 California Breeders’ Matron Stakes. The mare has produced 10 winners from 13 starters, including stakes winners Eagles Soar and Stolen Lives.
Ramon Sanchez rode Cattail Cove (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella) to second for owner Link Newcomb and trainer Juan Aleman. Cattail Cove ran second in the 2019 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1 and third in the 2021 Go Man Go Handicap-G1, 2021 Z Wayne Griffin Directors Handicap, 2020 All American Invitational, and 2019 Governor’s Cup Futurity-RG2.
Burns also bred third-place Mental Error (Favorite Cartel-IBA Quick Chick), who races for owner Bobby Simmons. Guillermo Suarez rode Mental Error, and Paul Jones trains him. Mental Error won the 2021 Kaweah Bar Handicap-G3 and First Day of Spring Stakes.
Bail Czech (Corona Czech-Letty Bail Regis Out) and Mister Tornado (Sports Cartel-Spaish Sola Mark) finished fourth and fifth. Stolen Lives was scratched.
Holiday Handicap
UP THE LADDER
by Tracy Gantz
Up The Ladder’s late burst of speed not only nabbed him the $20,000 Holiday Handicap at Los Alamitos on Dec. 26, it bodes well for the future.
“He’s going to love going 400 yards,” said Scott Willoughby, who trains Up The Ladder for owner/ breeder Dr. Ed Allred. “I think he’s going to make a nice three year old.”
The Holiday Handicap at 350 yards gave Up The Ladder plenty to do when he broke almost last. He brushed slightly with God Luvs Cowboys and then responded to jockey Jonathan Roman’s urging. In a close finish with three others, he scored by a head in :17.872.
Up The Ladder was coming off a win in the Dream A Secret Handicap. He finished first in three other races, though he was disqualified in one allowance race for interference.
Allred bred Up The Ladder in California from his homebred mare Oh La Princess, a daughter
of Allred-bred Oh La Proud. Oh La Princess has produced two winners in four starters. The third dam is multiple stakes winner Oh La Ree.
Jess Hez On Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Jess Send Me), bred by Turner Farms, which owns the
colt with Connie Nutt, finished second. Ramon Sanchez rode Jess Hez On Fire for trainer Paul Jones. In eight prior starts, the colt won twice and ran second four times.
Allred also bred and owns third-place finisher Lovely Evening (Seperate Interest-Moonlight Corona), and Willoughby trains her. Victor Salazar rode Lovely Evening, who previously won the 2021 Autumn Handicap.
Completing the field were Run By Your Cartel (Corona Cartel-Run By You), Mound Valley Eagle (One Fabulous Eagle-Royal Fooseperrpie), God Luvs Cowboys (Tres Seis-Lotta Love For Robyn), and Wave Burner (Wave Carver-First Prize Sass).
Los Alamitos • $20,000
350 yards • :17.872 • si 85
Kiddy Up UP THE LADDER, ‘19-g.
Corona Cartel
Miss Racy Vike
A Regal Choice
Oh La Princess
Oh La Proud
Los Alamitos • $25,000
400 yards • :19.752 • si 92
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
CHOCOLATITO, ‘16-g. Enjoy The Walk
Shenoshercorona Walk Thru Fire
Enjoy The Moment
Los Alamitos • $25,000
350 yards • :17.709 • si 90
Tres Seis DOC LAMB, ‘18-g.
Sixarun
Our Third Delight
PYC Paint Your Wagon
Third Painted Sign
Stylish Sign
182 SPEEDHORSE January 2022
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos