Page 168 - March_2023

RACING NEWS
Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1
TAKE A SWIG OF THIS
by Tracy Gantz
Jockey Eduardo Nicasio benefited from
a tough decision fellow rider Armando Cervantes had to make for the $183,350
Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 on Feb. 18. Cervantes had qualified all three of trainer Monty Arrossa’s horses, and he opted for fastest-qualifier Ghost Witha Fire, leaving Take A Swig Of This for Nicasio. Dunn Ranch owns both horses.
Arrossa had one piece of advice for Nicasio—“If he breaks, the race is yours.”
That’s exactly how it went. When the
gate opened, Take A Swig Of This came out beautifully. He immediately went to the front, and his margin just kept growing. At the wire, Take A Swig Of This had 2-lengths on the rest of the field, completing 400 yards in :19.585, while posting a 95 speed index.
“He felt super-fast,” said Nicasio. “I was on the horse only once before. I took him to the gate and he didn’t move. I thought, ‘If he is this
Take A Swig Of This is never headed and wins the Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 by 2-lengths under Eduardo Nicasio.
166 SPEEDHORSE March 2023
Los Alamitos
$183,350 • 400 yards :19.585 • si 95
TAKE A SWIG OF THIS, ‘20-g.
Bred by: Weetona Stanley
Raced to 3 $280,097 6-3(1)-1(1)-0
A REVENANT
si 91
Bred by: Julianna Hawn Holt Raced to 2 • $604,800 4-3(1)-1(1)-0
146 f., 8 SW • $3,407,985
MR JESS PERRY si 113 Bred by: Jesse Perry Raced to 4 • $687,184 21-12(5)-2(1)-0
1,994 f., 161 SW • $60,731,924
THEWAYOUWANTMETOO si 108 Bred by: Carl & Shawnea Smith Raced to 3 • $327,953 11-4(1)-1-1
16 f., 2 SW • $1,437,455
PYC PRIZE DOLL
Bred by: Weetona Stanley Unraced
24 f., 2 SW • $595,279
PYC PAINT YOUR WAGON si 107 Bred by: Michael A. Pohl Raced to 3 • $889,581 16-7(4)-4(2)-2
1,648 f., 124 SW • $39,471,914
FAST PRIZE DOLL si 102 Bred by: Weetona Stanley Raced to 3 • $85,762 8-3-1-2(1)
44 f., 3 SW • $887,564
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos