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RACING NEWS
Go Man Go Handicap-G1
EMPRESSUM
Tby Tracy Gantz
elevision analysts felt that Empressum winning
the $100,000 Go Man Go Handicap-G1 at
Los Alamitos on Aug. 28 was such a foregone conclusion that they instead discussed how fast he would win it. For the record, Empressum covered 400 yards in :19.312, the second-fastest time ever in the history of the Go Man Go.
Rodrigo Vallejo has ridden Empressum in all
of the gelding’s races in 2021 and 2022, and the jockey traveled to Los Alamitos for the Go Man
Go Handicap. Empressum, the 1-9 favorite, broke outwardly and then flew to the front. Vallejo geared him down toward the wire, and thus Empressum won by 2 1/2-lengths.
Heath Taylor trains Empressum for owners
Jeff Jones and Steve Holt, who bred the gelding in Oklahoma. The Champion 3 Year Old and 3-Year- Old Gelding of 2021, Empressum has won six stakes and was coming off a win in the Vessels Maturity-G1.
Empressum is one of five winners from eight starters for his dam, Crazy Down Corona, whose other winners include 2022 Ruidoso Futurity-G1 third placed Hes Judgeandjury (a qualifier to this year’s All American Futurity-G1) and earlier stakes- placed runners Cartel Envy and Lotas First.
Flash Bak (Moonin The Eagle-Checknbac), winner of last year’s Los Alamitos Super Derby-G1 and Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1, finished second for jockey Oscar Peinado. Jaime Gomez trains the 4-year-old gelding for Valeriano Racing Stables.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Circle City (Favorite Cartel-Moonlight Corona) ran third. Jesus Ayala rode the gelding for trainer Scott Willoughby.
Completing the field were Up And Atem (Favorite Cartel-Up For It), Monopolist (Favorite Cartel-Nymph), Cattail Cove (Favorite Cartel- Katie Katella), and Mister Tornado (Sports Cartel- Spanish Sola Mark).
Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap
GOLDEN BOI
Gby Tracy Gantz
olden Boi, the 2021 Champion 2-Year-Old Colt,
has been perfect thus far in 2022. In March he won his trial and final of the El Primero Del Ano Derby-G3, and he added the $35,000 Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap at Los Alamitos on Aug. 27.
Ruben Lozano, who has ridden Golden Boi every time, was back aboard. Golden Boi broke from the 9-post in fifth. He put on a burst of speed to pass those in front of him and score by 3/4-length in :17.489, while posting a 96 speed index.
The M & G Farms of the Montano Gamez family of North Carolina bred Golden Boi in California, and Valentin Zamudio trains the colt for them. Last year, Golden Boi won the Ed Burke Million Futurity-G1 and finished third in the California Breeders’ Freshman Stakes.
Golden Boi is out of four-time stakes winner Logans Dash. The mare has produced two winners from three starters, including stakes-placed Logans Favorite.
Jose Nicasio rode Da Special One (Two Corona Special-Da One) to second for owner Alfredo Alonzo and trainer Jaime Gomez. Da Special One was coming off a victory in the Jens L. List Jr. Memorial California Breeders’ Stakes.
EG High Desert Farms’ homebred La Beverly Hills (Corona Czech-Jess Ravin) finished third under jockey Irving Lara for trainer Santos Perez. The filly had most recently run second in two stakes.
Up The Ladder (Kiddy Up-Oh La Princess), One Jenuine Cartel V (Tempting Dash-Romancing Mary), and Eye On The Sky (Favorite Cartel- Eagle On The Fly) finished fourth, fifth and sixth. Nevada Charles (Fly Thru The Fire-Nymph) and All Ways (Fly Thru The Fire-Million Ways) dead- heated for seventh, followed by All Pointz Bulletin (Tres Seis-All N The Jeans). Freighttrain Stew was scratched.
Go Josie Go Handicap
IN MY HEART
Iby Tracy Gantz
n My Heart snagged her second career stakes
victory in the $25,000 Go Josie Go Handicap at Los Alamitos on Sept. 18.
Sent away as the 7-5 favorite under jockey Jesus Ayala, In My Heart bumped slightly with Ms Ko coming away from the gate. She forged to the front, and while several came to the wire together, In My Heart surged again to win by 3/4-lengths in :17.565 for 350 yards, posting a 94 speed index. The $13,750 winner’s share of the purse increased her bankroll to $86,729.
Robert Kirk Gentry and Robbi Force own and bred In My Heart in the name of Gentry Farms, and Juan Aleman trains the 4-year-old filly. Two starts back, In My Heart won the 2022 Check Her Twice Stakes, and then she finished third in the California Regional Distaff Challenge Stakes, both at Los Alamitos.
Gentry Farms bred In My Heart in Kentucky out of winner Heartbeat. She is a half-sister to Champions Fredricksburg and Fredaville. Heartbeat has produced five winners from six starters with earnings of $236,395.
Letty Cartel (Fast Prize Cartel-Letty Bail Regis Out) and Ms Ko (Corona Cartel-Whatta Knockout) dead-heated for second. EG High Desert Farms bred and owns Letty Cartel, who was coming off her maiden win. The filly is trained by Santos Perez, and was ridden by Irving Lara. Erasmo Gasca rode Ms Ko for owner Norma Cano and trainer Jesus Nunez. Ms Ko ran third in the 2018 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity-G2.
Completing the field were Jess Fortunate
(Mr Jess Perry-Fire And Delight), Bizarrely (Favorite Cartel-Quirky), Budget Buster (Kiddy Up-Jetsetter), Astranomical (Dominyun-Quick Moon Sign), Unavailable (Jess Good Candy-Shades Of Blues Girl), and Go To Girl (Favorite Cartel- Remember Me Rose).
Los Alamitos • $100,000
400 yards • :19.312 • si 104
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
EMPRESSUM, ‘18-g.
Apollitical Time
First Down Dash
Crazy Down Corona
Crazy About Corona
Los Alamitos • $25,000
350 yards • :17.565 • si 94
Mr Jess Perry
Apollitical Jess
IN MY HEART, ‘18-f. Heartbeat
Apollitical Time Tres Seis
Fearless Freda
Los Alamitos • $35,000
350 yards • :17.489 • si 96
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
GOLDEN BOI, ‘19-c. Logans Dash
Shenoshercorona Toast To Dash
Logans Game
SPEEDHORSE October 2022 197
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez, Los Alamitos
Amber Mendez/Los Alamitos