Page 156 - Speedhorse, October 2021

RACING NEWS
Mildred N Vessels Memorial-G1
REASON TO FLY MV
by Tracy Gantz
Paulo Otavio Freire Macedo is a leading Brazilian owner who has competed often at Los Alamitos. So, it was fitting that his
homebred Reason To Fly MV gave him his first U.S. graded stakes victory when she captured the $125,000 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap-G1 at the track on Sept. 19.
When the Mildred N. Vessels Memorial began, Reason To Fly MV came out well in third under jockey Cruz
Mendez. Through the first
half of the 400 yards, she lagged behind the leaders. But she put on a burst of speed to score by a head in :19.882.
“With about 100 yards to go, she really started coming on strong,” said Mendez. “I knew we were in a good spot.”
Reason To Fly MV became only the third three year old to win the Vessels since 2007. Jose Flores trains
Go Man Go Handicap-G1
YOU CAN RUN
by Tracy Gantz
The mare You Can Fly compromised her rac- ing career by being a bad gate horse. But her 2017 gelded son You Can Run didn’t inherit that trait, though he does have her ability,
as demonstrated in the Aug. 29 Go Man Go Handicap-G1 at Los Alamitos.
In against a tough field that included Champion Eagles Fly Higher as well as the 7-10 favorite, 2020 Champion of Champions-G1 winner Apollitical Pence, You Can Run went off as the 9-1 fourth choice.
With Cruz Mendez aboard,
You Can Run broke on top,
but then Nomadic took over.
You Can Run put on a burst
of speed to win by a head in
:19.614 for 400 yards.
You Can Run was coming off his initial stakes victory in the California Breeders Sprint Stakes under the tutelage of Mike Casselman. Earlier, the four-year-old gelding ran second in the
the filly, who was coming off a second in the Golden State Derby-G2 and last year ran sec- ond in the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity-G2.
“We put her in this race almost as a prep race for the Los Alamitos Super Derby (trials),” said Flores. “We were either going to have to work her or run her here. It was Reason To Fly MV’s turn today, and she got it done.”
Freire Macedo bred Reason To Fly MV in California out of Take A Look,
who won the 2014 California Breeders’ Freshman Fillies Stakes and 2015 La Pacifica Handicap for her breeder, Dr. Ed Allred. Take A Look has produced three starters, all winners, including stakes- placed Look Of Love MV.
Gentry Farms’ homebred Kiss Thru Fire (Walk Thru Fire-Fredaville) finished second under jockey Raul Valenzuela for trainer Juan
Aleman. Kiss Thru Fire has won this year’s Charger Bar Handicap-G1, Denim N Diamonds Handicap-G3 and California Breeders’ Matron Stakes-RG3.
Favored Apollitical Patty (Apollitical Blood-A Perfect Cocktail), owned by Julianna Hawn Holt, ran third after being fractious in the starting gate. Armando Cervantes rode the three-year-old filly for trainer Monty Arrossa. Apollitical Patty won the 2020 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1 and the 2021 Los Alamitos Oaks-G3.
Completing the field were Suite Expectations (Apollitical Jess-Just A Fairytale), A Dash Of
Sign (Tempting Dash-A Tres Of Paint), Fayvorite Chick (Favorite Cartel-Chicks Tell), Rite On Time (Favorite Cartel-A Regal Classic), Wambui (Favorite Cartel-Babe On Fire), Elphaba (Kiss My Hocks-Witchs Streak), and J Best Boogie (Docs Best Card-Boogie Special).
Willoughby. The 4-year-old gelding won the 2020 Governor’s Cup Derby-G2, Southern California Derby-G2, and 2019 Ed Burke Juvenile Stakes.
Burns also bred third-place Cattail Cove (Favorite Cartel-Katie Katella), owned by Link Newcomb, trained by Juan Aleman, and ridden by Raul Valenzuela. Cattail Cove finished sec- ond to You Can Run in the Cal Breeders Sprint, and his other stakes placings include a second in the 2019 Los Alamitos $2 Million Futurity-G1.
Completing the field were Apollitical Pence (Apollitical Jess-Send City), Eagles Fly Higher (One Famous Eagle-Lone Bet), Chocolatito (Favorite Cartel-Enjoy The Walk), Mental Error (Favorite Cartel-Iba Quick Chick), Redneck Ryan (Separatist-A Delightful Legacy), and Mr Ricks (Mr Jess Perry-Aquafina). John Carter Cash was scratched.
Los Alamitos
$125,000 • 400 yards :19.882 • si 89
Favorite Trick TB
Good Reason SA
Queen Of Appeals
REASON TO FLY MV, ‘18-f.
Separatist
Take A Look
Look Her Over
2020 Los Alamitos Winter Derby-G1 and 2019 Los Alamitos Juvenile Invitational and third in the 2020 Golden State Derby-G2.
Dr. Steve Burns owns and bred You Can Run in California. Burns and Casselman also collaborated on You Can Fly, who overcame her gate trouble enough to be multiple stakes- placed and a four-time winner.
“She was a really fast mare, one of the fastest I’ve ever had,” said Casselman. “We did everything to try to get her to
leave the gate. (You Can Run) will stand good. Cruz took him to the gate the other day and he did well.”
You Can Fly has pro- duced three starters, all win- ners, including stakes-placed winner Opt Out.
Dr. Ed Allred’s homebred Nomadic (Favorite Cartel- Moonlight Corona) finished second for jockey Henry Lopez and trainer Scott
Los Alamitos
$100,000 • 400 yards :19.614 • si 96
Favorite Trick TB
Favorite Cartel
Shenoshercorona
YOU CAN RUN, ‘17-g. Walk Thru Fire
You Can Fly
Babe On The Fly
154 SPEEDHORSE October 2021
Orlando Gutierrez Los Alamitos