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put on the vet’s list and had to work 220 yards before entries closed to get off the list.
“It’s been a stressful three weeks for us,” Arrossa said. “We had to breeze him on Tuesday to get off the vet’s list. He did it well. Armando did a great job because that’s a hard spot. You have to work in a certain amount
of time. Armando did a good job taking care of the horse and got him through there while saving some for the final.”
Arrossa also complimented his team, especially Chicks First Flash’s groom, Esgar Ramos.
“Esgar has lived with him for three weeks,” said the trainer. “He’s been amazing. I give him a lot of credit. He loves the horse and has taken great care of him.”
Melinda Roche of Five Livestock Company and Steve Wright own Chicks First Flash. Prior to the trial, the gelding won the Fred Scane Handicap and the John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Championship Challenge.
Chicks First Flash’s existence harks back to Roche’s 40th birthday, when her late husband, Matt Telford, bought First Prize Chicks, who would become Chicks First Flash’s dam, for his wife, who is an equine reproductive veterinarian.
“We weren’t at the sale, but Monty picked her out (at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale),” said Roche. “I had asked for a racehorse because I’d never had one before.”
Racing for Five Livestock Company LLC and trained by Arrossa, First Prize Chicks won the 2016 Kip Didericksen Handicap at Los Alamitos.
“Then I started breeding her,” said Roche. “I foaled him out and I handled him every day of his life.”
First Price Chicks has produced two winners from three starters, including Chicks Dashin Bandit, a stakes winner for Roche in Idaho. The third dam is Broodmare of the Year First Prize Dash.
Roche races most of her horses in Idaho, but that changed when she sold an interest in Chicks First Flash to Steve Wright.
“I’m just thankful that Melinda let me buy half of him,” Wright said. “My requirement was that he had to run in California. I knew the breeding on the horse, and she was great enough to let me buy and I talked her into running in California, so it’s a two-fer.”
Roche confirmed that it was Wright who urged her to race the gelding in California.
“I was going to run him in Idaho because
I didn’t know what I had,” she said. “Steve wanted to go to California. I was nervous about it, but it’s worked out.”
Adrian Loza piloted Mornings With Maria (Seperate Interest-Bartiromo) to second for trainer Juan Aleman and owners Javier
Barragan Jr., Enrique Becerra, and Miguel Gomez. The filly broke her maiden in her Futurity trial after qualifying and running unplaced in two other graded futurities.
Arrossa also trained third-place Valiantli (Valiant Hero-La Vencedora), ridden by Cruz Mendez and owned by Taos River Ranch, Dennis Jensen, and Randy Young. Valiantli won the Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G2.
One Sweet Bar (Five Bar Cartel-One Sweet Runner) and Turbeau (Favorite Cartel-Babe On The Fly) dead-heated for fourth. They were followed by Quirky Bitty Jess (Apollitical Jess-A Bit Quirky), Hes Chickless (Hes Relentless-Chickitita), and Frivolous (Favorite Cartel-Nymph). Required First was scratched.
RACING NEWS
Chicks First Flash’s winning connections include owners Five Livestock Company LLC and Steve Wright, trainer Monty Arrossa, and jockey Armando Cervantes.
Steve Wright and Monty Arrossa shaking hands after their win.
SPEEDHORSE November 2022 177
William Zuazo/Los Alamitos
William Zuazo/Los Alamitos