Page 194 - April_2023

RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos Oaks-G1
CARTEL KISSES
by Tracy Gantz
Owners Bobbie and Larry Rice and trainer Heath Taylor had a decision to make with Cartel Kisses at the end of 2022. They could
give her some time off or they could send her to California for the rich Los Alamitos Oaks-G1. They opted for the latter, which proved an excellent move when Cartel Kisses squeaked out a nose victory.
“It wasn’t the plan to bring her here,” Taylor said after the race. “The plan was to let her rest. I got to thinking about the schedule, knowing that this would be a Grade 1 Oaks with a large purse. So I called them and asked them one more time. They thought about it and said that they would bring her out here. I have to thank them for having trust in me.”
Oklahoma-bred Cartel Kisses started
10 times last year, beginning with the Remington Park meeting, where she captured the Easy Jet Stakes. Moving to Ruidoso Downs, she won all three of her races—two trials and the Rainbow Juvenile
192 SPEEDHORSE April 2023
Cartel Kisses wins the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks under jockey Rodrigo Vallejo.
Los Alamitos
$461,500 • 400 yards :19.764 • si 90
CARTEL KISSES ‘20-f.
Bred by: Flag Ranch LLC
Raced to 3 $399,284 12-9(3)-1(0)-1(1)
KISS MY HOCKS
si 109
Bred by: Tyler Graham & Conda Maze
Raced to 3 • $1,199,385 12-9(3)-1(1)-0(0)
390 f., 17 SW • $8,412,898
TEMPTING DASH si 112 Bred by: Tyler Graham & John Mayers
Raced to 2 • $673,970 4-4(2)-0(0)-0(0)
842 f., 34 SW • $14,491,951
ROMANCING MARY si 103 Bred by: Broken Bones Cattle Co./Ed Leslie
Raced to 3 • $163,294 14-4(0)-4(1)-4(4)
17 f.,1? SW • $1,445,582
MIDNIGHT CARTEL
si 96
Bred by: Henry E Brown Raced to 4 • $93,385 16-4(1)-1(0)-1(1)
9 f., 1 SW • $510,669
CARTERS CARTEL si 103
Bred by: Double Bar S Ranch LLC Raced to 3 • $659,146 10-6(2)-1(0)-2(1)
825 f., 43 SW • $14,086,126
NIGHT LINES si 96 Bred by: Ramich Farms Raced to 3 • $38,724 17-3(0)-4(0)-1(0)
28 f., 2 SW • $598,205
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos