Page 245 - September 2023

Spencer Childers Champ. H.-RG1
LONDON TOBY
by Michael Compton
Edward Allred’s homebred London Toby made short work of seven rivals in the $100,000 Spencer L. Childers California Breeders’ Championship
Handicap-RG1 at Los Alamitos on July 29, winning the event with authority in a strong effort.
Ridden by Jesus Ayala, London Toby grabbed the lead away from the starting gate and proved uncatchable. He opened a length advantage on Always A Chance in the lane and powered away to score by 1 1/4-lengths at the finish to register the biggest win of his career. He covered the distance
in a fast :19.478, earning a 98 speed index. The final clocking was the fastest time in the race since Chivalry SR set the stakes record of :19.067 in 2011.
With the impressive victory, London Toby, who
is trained by Scott Willoughby, is now a winner in five of 12 starts and the $55,000 winner’s share of the purse raised his bankroll to $115,093. In his previous start, London Toby finished a strong fourth to World Champion Empressum in the Vessels Maturity-G1
on July 2. Allred and Willoughby have been the winningest combination in the history of the Spencer Childers. Allred has won nine renewals, while Willoughby owns six wins in the race. The pair have teamed to win three straight and five of the last seven.
Runner-up Always A Chance (Favorite Cartel- Elans Last) was clearly second best for owner Junior’s Quarter Horses and trainer Monty Arrossa. Always A Chance was ridden by Armando Cervantes.
Multiple stakes winner Cattail Cove (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella) rallied late while drifting out to finish third under Victor Salazar. Link Newcomb owns the gelding who is trained by Juan Aleman.
Eye On the Sky (Favorite Cartel-Eagle On The Fly), Jess Being A Friend (Jess Bring Valiant-Six Zeroes), Stuck In Probate (Favorite Cartel-Fyrefly Jo), Strawfinders Corona (Stel Corona-Strawfinder), and All Ways (Fly Thru The Fire-Million Ways) followed.
BOA LA Championship Chal.-G2
EMPRESSUM
by Tracy Gantz
World Champion Empressum and multiple graded stakes winner Scoops Dynasty met again in the Aug. 5 Bank of America Los Alamitos Championship Challenge-G2. They most recently had finished one-two in the Vessels Maturity-G1 at Los Alamitos, just a neck apart.
This time they made it even closer. Scoops Dynasty got the jump on Empressum, but Empressum, under regular rider Rodrigo Vallejo, surged forward to take the lead. Just when the World Champion looked like a sure winner, Scoops Dynasty came back on and they flashed under the wire together. The photo showed Empressum a nose winner, as he clocked the 440 yards in :21.326.
Heath Taylor trains Empressum for owners/breeders Jeff Jones and Steve Holt. In addition to his 2022 World Championship, Empressum was named the season’s Aged Champion and Champion Aged Gelding. He was the Champion 3 Year Old and Champion 3-Year-Old Gelding of 2021 and has now earned $1,743,044.
Jones and Holt bred Empressum out of winner Crazy Down Corona, who has produced five winners in eight starters, including Champion and 2022 All American Futurity-G1 winner Hes Judgeandjury.
Scoops Dynasty (FDD Dynasty-Bye Sweet Girl) races for breeders/owners Edward and Von Zae McNelis. Armando Cervantes rode the 4-year-old gelding for trainer Monty Arrossa. Scoops Dynasty won the 2022 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1, Golden State Derby-G2, and Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge. Taylor also trains third- place Jettz (One Fabulous Eagle-First To Celebrate), bred and owned by Bobby Cox and ridden by Armando Viramontes.
Charlies Fast Man (Apollitical Blood- Alltherightcurves) and Apollitical Famous V (Apollitical Jess-Me Chickie) finished fourth and fifth. Shott Gun was scratched.
California Brds.’ Matron S.-RG3
LETTY CARTEL
by Michael Compton
Sent to the post as the 2-1 second wagering choice in a compact field of six in the $40,000 California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-RG3 at Los
Alamitos on July 29, Letty Cartel asserted her superiority, streaking to an impressive victory in the 400-yard test.
With jockey Irving Lara aboard, Letty Cartel broke well but drifted out after the start. The 4-year-old filly maintained a clear advantage throughout and scored by 1/2-length over She Goes Up, the odds-on race favorite in a field of state-bred distaffers. Letty Cartel stopped the timer in :19.846 and earned an 88 speed index.
A homebred for EG High Desert Farms, Letty Cartel is trained by Jesus Nunez, who also sent
out third-place finisher La Beverly Hills. With the win, Letty Cartel improved her overall record to 19-3-3-3 and the $22,000 winner’s share of the purse swelled her bankroll to $128,929. In her previous outing, Letty Cartel captured the Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes at Los Alamitos in June and before that finished third in the Miss Princess Handicap-G3 in May, also at Los Alamitos. Bred in California, Letty Cartel is out of the stakes-winning Bail Me Out Baby mare Letty Bail Regis Out.
She Goes Up (Separate Interest-Up for It), the 4-5 favorite, broke a step slow and drifted in steadily but secured the place spot under Jesus Ayala. The 4-year-old daughter of Separate Interest is a homebred for Ed Allred and is conditioned by Scott Willoughby.
La Beverly Hills (Corona Czech-Jess Ravin), piloted by Cruz Mendez, checked in third for Nunez and owner EG High Desert Farms.
All Prettied Up (Favorite Cartel-Pretty Jet High), Up To Good (Kiddy Up-Better Be Good), and Intu Wishin (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella) completed the order of finish.
RACING NEWS
SPEEDHORSE September 2023 243
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Los Alamitos • $100,000
400 yards • :19.478 • SI 98
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
LONDON TOBY, ‘18-g. London Laura
Shenoshercorona Walk Thru Fire
Kingman Kin
Los Alamitos • $48,994
440 yards • :21.326 • SI 104
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
EMPRESSUM, ‘18-g.
Apollitical Time
First Down Dash
Crazy Down Corona
Crazy About Corona
Los Alamitos • $40,000
400 yards • :19.846 • SI 88
Corona Cartel
Fast Prize Cartel
LETTY CARTEL, ‘19-f.
Fast First Prize
Bail Me Out Baby
Letty Bail Regis Out
Artesias Merridoc