VESSELS MATURITY TRIALS & ED BURKE FUTURITY TRIALS AT LO

Vessels Maturity trials on June 2nd and Ed Burke trials on June 9th. Mark your calendars and good luck to all.

there are also challenge trials on June 8th at Los Alamitos...

KINDERGARTEN WINNER HEADS FULL NIGHT OF ED BURKE MILLION FUTURITY TRIALS ON SATURDAY


Over five hours of savory Quarter Horse action are on tap Saturday at Los Alamitos, as 118 horses will be in action in 14 trials to the Ed Burke Million Futurity final on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The first 350-yard trial is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. with the final trial set for 11:42 p.m.


The horses with the 10 fastest times will advance to the $1,130,000 Ed Burke Million final, which serves as the first leg of the Los Alamitos version of the Triple Crown - the $1 million Cash Bonanza. Horses 11 thru 20 in the trials will qualify to the $35,000 Ed Burke Juvenile. Both races will be held on Saturday, June 23.



There are big names a plenty in the trials with the likes of Kindergarten Futurity winner Carters Cartel and the highly regarded Masters Call among the notable contenders. Trained by Jaime Gomez Carters Cartel won the 300-yard Kindergarten by a neck and his dam produced the runner-up to the Los Alamitos Million Futurity at 400 yards, so the extra distance should not be a problem.



There will be $785,000 worth of horseflesh when Catchmeonthebackside and Masters Call are loaded in post positions six and seven, respectively, for the start of trial number five to the $1,130,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity on Saturday at Los Alamitos. The two horses will be the favorites to win in this heat, which will serve just one of the many exciting duels on Ed Burke Million trial night.



Masters Call might be the most famous name of the Class of '07 after being the $485,000 sale topper at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale last year. Masters Call, a full-brother to 2006 top freshman stallion Check Him Out, began his racing career in great shape after winning his maiden by a length in a time of :15.58. Owned by a partnership headed by Ed Allred, R.D. Hubbard and Bud Alessio, Masters Call looked great in the final 100 yards of the 300-yard race, so he should absolutely love the extra 50 yards in the trials to the Ed Burke Million. John Bassett will saddle Masters Call.



Trained by Mike Joiner, Catchmeonthebackside is a half-brother to three-time champion Catchmeinyourdreams. Owned by Keilani Farms and Vessels Stallion Farm, Catchmeonthebackside was the second high seller at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale after being purchased for $300,000.



The third and fourth highest seller at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale will also be featured in the Ed Burke Million trials. First Icy Morn, who sold for $210,000, finished second to Masters Call in the aforementioned maiden test and he'll be in action in trial number 10. Owned by Allred, Cozby, Smith, Vessels and partners, First Icy Morn is also trained by Mike Joiner. G.R. Carter, fresh off his winning rides in the Remington Park Championship and Heritage Place Derby last weekend, will ride First Icy Morn, as well as Catchmeonthebackside.



Allred and T.J. Simers' Kiddy Up sold for $160,000 at the Equine Sale, making him fourth on the '06 sale list. He looked impressive when breaking his maiden by a length at 300 yards and the Corona Cartel colt should absolutely love this longer distance. Kiddy Up's first $50,000 in earnings on the racetrack will be donated to the Mattel Children's Hospital at UCLA.



Carters Cartel is not the only Kindergarten graduate that will compete in the Ed Burke trials. In fact five of the top seven finishers in that Grade 1 final will look to qualify to the Ed Burke Million final. Kindergarten fastest qualifier Miss Kittys Bar Bet will be in action in the first trial heat. She blew the racing world away in the trials after winning by a two lengths in a time of :15.32 and then delivered another solid effort when running third in the final for owner Steve Burns and trainer Hector Jaime Hernandez. Marcus Smith's Shez Snow Quick ran fourth in the Kindergarten final and will also see action here.

Freaky, who ran sixth in the Kindergarten, will be in the 12th trial. The TR Dasher gelding won his Kindergarten heat by 1 1/4 lengths. Rounding out the Kindergarten class is seventh place finisher Perksandmiracles, who'll do her thing for owner Jaime Godinez and trainer Guillermo Morales. While 18 of the 118 horses in the trials come in with perfect records only two are multiple winners. They are Copa King and Wicked Royal Cartel, who have each delivered the goods in their two career starts.

COURTESY OF LOS ALAMITOS

Soooo many nice horses! It should be enjoyable! I will be first to admit that I will probably miss the last few trials - hmmm, unless I watch them on my laptop on the way home from the races...even then I'll still probably miss a couple...

COURTESY OF LOS ALAMITOS.COM

http://www.losalamitos.com/laqhr/stories.cfm?id=3852

Thanks Smokey!!!!

South American Challenge Winner Arrives at Los Al

June 7, 2007 -- The winner of the Bank of America South American Challenge Championships at the Sao Paulo Jockey Club in Brazil on January 27, 2007 has arrived at the barn of Felix Gonzalez at Los Alamitos.

Brando Bryan is owned by Marc Nacamuli’s Haras Sudimar LTDA, of Sao Paulo, Brasil, and was bred by longtime leading Brazilian Quarter Horse breeder Gianni Franco Samaja. At Gonzalez’s barn, the 4-year-old colt joins his full brother Aladim Bryan SA, who is the stakes-winning, 550-yard Los Al track record holder. Another Blazen Bryan colt, the stakes-placed 3-year-old colt Don Juan Bryan SA is also stabled there. Both Aladim Bryan SA and Don Juan Bryan are homebreds racing for Samaja’s Haras Santo Angelo of Brotas, Sao Paulo, Brazil.

Haras Santo Angelo recently held its annual sale and Mega Race at the Jockey Club of Sorocaba, Sao Paulo, over the Memorial Day weekend. Americans attending the race and sale included AQHA staff members Darrell Hare and Jim Persinger, and AQHA Directors Vaughn Cook and Vince Genco.


Eureka Bryan, a filly by Blazen Bryan out of Xenga Dash SA, topped the May 26 sale with a bid of $265,000 US. Bred by Gianni Franco Samaja, the filly will be a 2-year-old in July 2007.

In the May 27 Latin American Mega Race, five Quarter Horses entered the gate for their share of $330,000 Real. The exchange rate at the time of the race was roughly two real to a United States dollar. Stud Gordo and Toninho’s Hipocresia Dash reached the wire first in the 402 meter race. The Tolltac Daring filly covered the distance in :21.66. Hipocresia Dash earned approximately $90,000 US for the victory. Diva Bryan finished second and was followed by Phase Streak, Darlin Ease and Class As Biscuit.

As Quarter Horse racing continues to increase in popularity in South America, many South American horsemen are shipping horses to the United States to compete.

Several horses owned by Brazilians will be running in the Ed Burke Million Futurity (G1) trials on June 9.

Benny Rosset, who campaigned All American Futurity (G1) winner No Secrets Here with partner Vessels Stallion Farm, will have a horse in the trials with partners Mauro and Marcos Zabarowsky, Marcelo Jorge and Luiz Arena. Washer Corona will run in the fourth trial.

Rosset will also have homebred Strawfly Tiger BR, a Strawfly Special filly, in the first trial; homebred Steel Seperatist BR, a Separatist colt, in the eighth trial; First By Six, a First Down Dash filly, in the ninth trial, and homebred Stylish Jess BR, a Feature Mr Jess filly, in the 10th trial.

Gianni Franco Samaja will send out Excalibur King SA, a homebred Strawfly Special colt that is a full brother to stakes horses Special Queen SA and Appeals King Special, in the third trial. He also has homebred Ever Fire Burns SA, a Hawkinson colt, in the eighth trial and Easy Separate SA, a homebred Separatist colt out of Special Queen SA.


COURTESY OF AQHA.COM

You will be able to get a free program on Los Alamitos's website later this afternoon if anyone wants to get it...

COURTESY OF LOS ALAMITOS AND STALLIONESEARCH



Kindergarten Winner Tops Ed Burke Trials



Kindergarten Futurity winner Carters Cartel posted the fastest qualifying time of :17.42 to the $1,130,000 Ed Burke Million Futurity after an easy 1 3/4 length victory in the second of 14 trials to the first leg of the $1 million Los Alamitos Cash Bonanza on Saturday.
Five horses sired by Corona Cartel, including four of the five fastest finishers, were among the 10 qualifiers that will return for the 350-yard final on June 23. Carters Cartel is one of the five. For the complete list of qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys click here.

Trained by Jaime Gomez for reigning AQHA Champion Owners Double Bar S Ranch, Carters Cartel will now look to become the eighth horse to win both the Kindergarten and Ed Burke. The Kindergarten dates back to 1955 while the Ed Burke was known as the PCQHRA Futurity when it first started in 1951. Champion Hawkish is the last horse to sweep both two races, pulling this futurity double in 2003. Bobbys Delight (1975), Town Policy (1977), Corona Chick (1991), Ah Sigh (1994), First Sovereign (1998) and Morning Snow (2002) are the others to accomplish the feat.

Steve Burns' Miss Kittys Bar Bet, the fastest qualifier in the Kindergarten trials, settled for posting the second fastest time in the Ed Burke Million trials after winning the first heat in a time of :17.45. Hector Jaime Hernandez, who is enjoying quite a roll in the past few weeks, saddled the daughter of Sum Fun To Bet. Hernandez has the fastest qualifiers to the Bayer Legend California Challenge and Grade 1 Vessels Maturity. The following is a race-by-race account of the trials to the Ed Burke Million Futurity.

Trial 1 - Winner & Qualifier: Miss Kittys Bar Bet Qualifier: Shez Snow Quick
1/8th clocking :09.45 Final Time :17.45

The Ed Burke Million final will be a rematch between Carters Cartel and Miss Kittys Bar Bet. After meeting in the Kindergarten, a race in which Miss Kittys Bar Bet ran third, the two will now enter the gate as part of the Ed Burke Million final field.

"She bumped around in the Kindergarten," said trainer Hector Jaime Hernandez. "If she can break in the Ed Burke final she'll be right there."

The ultra quick Sum Fun To Bet filly was a 3/4 length winner in this race over Shez Snow Quick, who ran fourth in the Kindergarten final. Owned by Marcus Smith, Shez Snow Quick also qualified.

Miss Kittys Bar Bet's owner is Dr. Steve Burns, who purchased her as part of a seven-horse package from the late Frank Pregelli's daughter following the death of her father in a car accident earlier this year.

"Miss Kittys Bar Bet has exceeded all of our expectations," Burns said. "We also bought her mother (Fames Easy) and Miss Kittys' sister (Ynot Bar). We have a Walk Thru Fire and Snowbound embryos out of Fames Easy. "

Trial 2 - Winner and Fastest Qualifier: Carters Cartel
1/8th clocking :09.46 Final Time :17.42

Carters Cartel scored an easy victory en route to the fastest qualifying time, as he led by at least a length every step of the way. Carters Cartel, who earned over $150,000 in the Kindergarten, will be eyeing the $460,000 first place prize in the Ed Burke.

"He's a heck of a horse," trainer Jaime Gomez said. "He reminds me of his father so much. He doesn't make many mistakes and he acts like gelding. He's quiet all the time and as nice as can be."

The Corona Cartel colt is a half-brother to multiple Grade 1 winner Tac It Like A Man. His dam is the 1993 champion Jumping Tac Flash. He is owned and bred by Double Bar S Ranch LLC.

Trial 3 - Winner and Qualifier: Wicked Royal Cartel
1/8th clocking :09.49 Final Time :17.54

Owner and breeder Abigail Kawananakoa received a very special gift prior to the start of the Ed Burke Million trials.

"My good friend Maggie Kennedy gave me this plant of three-leaf clovers," she said. "The last time someone gave me three-leaf clovers was the day that I won the All American Futurity (with A Classic Dash in 1993)."

The three-leaf clovers brought her good luck, as the Corona Cartel filly won her trial by a length. Wicked Royal Cartel is the only 2-year-old on the grounds with a perfect three for three record.

"I went to the Heritage Place Sale to buy her dam (Wicked Winner), who was in foal. I ended up getting two horses for the price of one after Wicked Royal Cartel was born at the sale."

Trial 4 - Winner and Qualifier: Tres Spice - Qualifier: Tailgunner Tom
1/8th clocking :09.51 Final Time :17.55

It's been a tough stretch for Hall of Fame trainer Blane Schvaneveldt, who has had to endure multiple back operations over the past 18 months or so. Good thing for Tres Spice. The Tres Seis filly outdueled Tailgunner Tom by a nose after a hard-fought duel that saw both horses advance to the final. Schvaneveldt has won the Ed Burke six time, most recently with First Sovereign in 1998.

Trial 5 - Winner: Masters Call
1/8th clocking :09.45 Final Time :17.745

Masters Call and Catchmeonthebackside, the two high sellers at last year's Los Alamitos Equine Sale, finished first and second in this trial both did not run fast enough to qualify. Masters Call, the $485,000 sale topper, was huge in the trials, as he recovered from a slow start to make up nearly a length disadvantage on Catchmeonthebackside. The Check Him Out colt improved to two wins in as many starts.

Trial 6 - Winner and Qualifier: Kiddy Up
1/8th clocking :09.49 Final Time :17.54

Racing for Ed Allred and Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers, Kiddy Up delivered his second consecutive daylight victory on the way to earning the fourth fastest qualifying time to the final. Purchased for $160,000 at last year's Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Allred owns 99% of the Corona Cartel colt with Simers owning the remaining 1%. Simers likes to say that he owns Kiddy Up's nose. Allred is paying for all expenses on the horse and will donate the first $50,000 Kiddy Up wins on the track to the Mattel Children's Hospital.

Simers authors the "Page 2" column in The Times. He is also the co-host of KLAC 570's "Roggin and Simers Square" with NBC 4's Fred Roggin and his T.J.'s daughter, Tracy. The show airs weekdays from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m.

Kiddy Up won his first race by a length and his trial effort by an impressive 1 1/4 lengths.

Trial 7 - Winner: Short Czech
1/8th clocking :09.71 Final Time :17.72

Short Czech overcame a lot to win his Ed Burke Million trial. The Corona Czech filly turned over as Carlos Bautista was getting the leg up on her in the walking ring before the post parade for this race. The filly was loose for a few seconds in the paddock and then had to wait while her connections replaced a broken bridle. After that commotion, Short Czech put her mind to business to score a neck victory. It was the first win for trainer Daniel Luna since he took over the training duties for EG High Desert Farms.

"I had lost all faith for this race when I saw her slip," Enrique Gonzalez said. "I figured she would get scratch. Fortunately, it was not a serious incident and she ran a heck of race. Too bad she didn't qualify. I believe she would have had a good chance if that had not happened to her before the race."

Trial 8 - Winner and Qualifier: Eye For Corona
1/8th clocking :09.57 Final Time :17.55

Purchased for $90,000 at the Ruidoso Yearling Sale, Eye For Corona paid $11.60 to win following her 3/4 length victory over impressive maiden winner Ever Fire Burns SA. The Corona Cartel filly is owned by Keilani Farms, who was enjoyed their first win at Los Alamitos.

"We had a couple of seconds prior to this," said Glen Collins of Keilani Farms. "We got two in the final - this one as Tailgunner Tom. We're thrilled."

Collins of College Station, Texas, has spent serious money buying babies over the past year. He also owns Catchmeonthebackside, who sold for $300,000 at last year's Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

"I look for a couple of things when I'm buying a yearling," Collins said. "The horses has to be well bred and he has to be correct. Those are the main things."

Trial 9 - Winner: Jess My Moon
1/8th clocking :09.51 Final Time :17.70

Pat Guthrie, Billy Smith and Vessels Stallion Farm's Jess My Moon broke a step slow and that may have the son of Mr Jess Perry a spot in the Ed Burke Million final. The colt out of multiple Grade 1 winner Your First Moon won his debut by an impressive 1 3/4 lengths before recording his 3/4 length victory here. Guthrie, Smith and Vessels owned last year's Ed Burke winner FDD Dynasty, who is back in training and being pointed to the major derbies in the sport.

Trial 10 - Winner: Stylish Jess Br
1/8th clocking :09.49 Final Time :17.59

Benny Rossett's Stylish Jess Br was the unlucky 11th fastest qualifier to the Ed Burke Million final. He finished less than 2/100ths of a second off the final qualifier Shez Snow Quick. "Cody Jensen said she knocked around three lengths into the race and ran great from there," said Rossett's Equine Agent in the United States Vince Genco. "Benny bought the dam (Stylish Secret) in foal with Stylish Jess Br. The fact that Stylish Secreet was carrying a Feature Mr Jess was a big reason for Benny buying her. He's always been high on the Feature Mr Jess babies. Feature Mr Jess is also the sire Benny's multiple grade derby winner Redwood Creek. Redwood Creek had some chips taken out but he looks great now and ready to resume his racing career."

Trial 11 - Winner: Royal Holland Line
1/8th clocking :09.59 Final Time :17.71

Abigail Kawanankoa's Royal Holland Line, the biggest favorite of the night at 1-5 odds, was fifth at the start after brushing with a rival but still managed to post a neck victory over the 23-1 longshot Amstel. The Holland Ease gelding came into this race having won his debut by a length. He has shown an ability to finish strong in his two outings, however, his winning time here was not good enough.

Trial 12 - Winner and Qualifier: Freaky
1/8th clocking :09.48 Final Time :17.55

Freaky, the sixth place finisher in the Kindergarten, broke like a shot in his trial, cruising home to the tune of a 3/4 length victory. Owned by Ed Allred and trained by Scott Willoughby, the TR Dasher gelding was making his fourth start of the year. Carters Cartel and Miss Kittys Bar Bet are the other qualifiers that have already made four outings this season. "This horse flew out of the gate," said Fred Scane, who is Allred's stallion manager. "That's what it takes to get into a big race like the Ed Burke Million."

"I'm glad he had this chance to show what he can do," said Willoughby. "He's always on his toes and loves training. The thing about the TR Dashers is that they always try hard and they pay attention to their business. They're running great right now."

Trial 13 - Winner: Gold Medal Ribbon
1/8th clocking :09.65 Final Time :17.82

Salvador Onate's Gold Medal Ribbon, a half-brother of Golden State Million Futurity winner Jess You And I, outfinished the competition to win his first race in two starts. Bred by Dawn and Rhonda List, Gold Medal Ribbon is out of the mare Gold Daze. He ran third to Royal Holland Line and Catchmeonthebackside in his only other start. Jaime Gomez saddled the First Down Dash colt.

Trial 14 - Winner and Qualifier: Magic Show Czech
1/8th clocking :09.52 Final Time :17.56

EG High Desert Farms' Magic Show Czech defeated several nice horses, including Kindergarten finalist Perksandmiracles, to earn a berth into the Ed Burke Millin final. The California-bred colt was repurchased from the Los Alamitos Equine Sale.

"I decided that it was best just to bring him home," Gonzalez said. "It feels great to make it to a Grade 1 race. We haven't won many races this year, so I was feeling a little desperate to win some races. I feel like we have a chance in the final with this horse but I'm sure the connections of the other nine horses feel the same way. This horses gives us a good chance."

His dam, Thoroughbred Pure Magic, was unraced but has produced Quarter Horse stakes winners Pure Rhythm and Pure Red Hot. Corona Czech stands at EG High Desert Farms.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com

COURTESY OF DAILY RACING FORM

Los Alamitos | Posted 6/20/2007, 5:36 pm

Jones has half the field in Vessels Maturity
By TY WYANT
The Grade 1, $147,200 Vessels Maturity, with half of the 10-horse field from the Paul Jones barn, starts an important weekend of racing Friday at Los Alamitos. The $1,130,000 Ed Burke Million will be run on Saturday night.

The Vessels Maturity winner receives a berth in the Grade 1, $1 million Champion of Champions on Dec. 8.

One horse in the 400-yard Maturity field, Volcom, has already earned a spot in the Champion of Champions by virtue of his victory in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Winter Championship.

The Jones-trained Volcom made a late rally in the 400-yard Winter Championship to catch Spike It and Fly and win by a head. He was then rested until the Maturity trials and responded with a close second behind fastest qualifier Go Love a Lark Go, who was timed in 19.570 seconds. Volcom was credited with a time of 19.575.

"He shows up every time," Jones said of Volcom. "We backed off on him after the Winter Championship, so he was probably a little short in his trial. He should be ready for the finals."

Jones also sends out Dutch Schultz, the El Primero Del Ano Derby winner; First Wicked Lady, second in the All American Derby; Strength in Numbers, a three-time stakes winner; and Dicey Dee, third in the Kaweah Bar Handicap.

Go Love a Lark Go raced to two minor stakes wins and a third in the Katella Handicap before beating Volcom in their Maturity trial at 11-1.P

Carters Cartel back in Ed Burke

Kindergarten winner Carters Cartel tries to affirm his spot as the West Coast's leading juvenile when he comes into the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million as the fastest qualifier.

Carters Cartel won the Kindergarten at nearly 10-1 odds with a neck decision over Daddy Dasher, who did not run in the Ed Burke trials. Carters Cartel won his Ed Burke trial by 1 3/4 lengths in 17.420 seconds for 350 yards, the fastest time from 14 trials.

"He doesn't make any mistakes," said trainer Jaime Gomez.

Second-fastest qualifier Miss Kittys Bar Bet finished third in the Kindergarten as the 9-5 favorite after setting the fastest qualifying time. She won her Kindergarten trial by 1 3/4 lengths in 17.450.

"She got bumped in the Kindergarten," trainer Hector Hernandez said. "If she can break in the Ed Burke, she'll be right there."

Third-fastest qualifier Wicked Royal Cartel is making her first stakes appearance after winning each of her three starts, capped by her Ed Burke trial in 17.540.

"She's been getting better and better," said Jones, her trainer. "She has her work cut out, but she's done everything asked of her so far."

Czech N Out Ashley favored

Czech N Out Ashley will be favored to gain his fourth straight win when he heads the $40,000 Bayer Legend California Derby Challenge on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.

The gelding won two minor stakes before leading the qualifiers to the California Derby Challenge with a half-length win in 19.740 for 400 yards.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com

The Old Mare Wins Vessels Maturity



At 9, Five Bar Molly becomes the oldest horse to
win the Vessels Maturity(G1).

LOS ALAMITOS RACE COURSE, CYPRESS, CA—JUNE 22, 2007—

Five Bar Molly wasn't even supposed to run in 2007. Yet, the 9-year-old mare, already a proven broodmare, stepped away from the breeding shed in January to become arguably the top aged racing mare in the nation after defeating the opposite sex in the $147,200 Vessels Maturity Friday at Los Alamitos.
Owned by Francisco and Esmeralda Flores' A Regal Choice Incorporated, Five Bar Molly set a couple records with her Vessels Maturity victory. Piloted by young rider Juan Andrade, Five Bar Molly became the oldest horse to win this race while also breaking A Ransom's 400-yard stakes with her winning time of :19.39. A Ransom posted the previous stakes record of :19.42 in 2002.

Five Bar Molly's surprising victory - she was a 12-1 longshot in this race - earned the daughter of Dash Ta Fame an automatic berth to this year's $1 million Champion of Champions. Thanks to her length victory over fastest qualifier Go Love A Lark Go, she now joins Los Alamitos Winter Championship winner Volcom, who finished seventh to Five Bar Molly in this race, and two-time Remington Park Championship winner Country Chicks Man, who ran third place in last year's Champion of Champions, with guaranteed berths in the sport's most prestigious race for older horses.

The running of the Vessels Maturity was marred by a one-horse spill involving 2005 El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Dutch Schultz. The Holland Ease gelding was euthanized after he went down at the midway point of the race. Jockey Eddie Garcia, this track's all-time leader in stakes victories, was aboard Dutch Schultz. Garcia was immediately taken to Los Alamitos Medical Center. According to his wife, Jane, the veteran rider suffered a broken collarbone.

Trained by Adan Farias, Five Bar Molly earned $61,824 to raise her career earnings to $147,109. Winner of the Grade 3 Miss Princess Handicap earlier this season, the Fiva Bakers Inc-bred mare has now won three of six starts this season. Prior to this year, she had won nine of 16 starts but had earnings of only $46,060. It was the hope to add more money and prestige to her catalog page that led to Francisco Flores' decision to bring her back to the track.

"I just wanted her to run once or twice while we waited for the breeding season to start," Flores said. "She was so competitive in her first couple of comeback outs that we ended up not breeding her at all. I wanted to make her a winner of $100,000 to raise her value as a broodmare and to make her babies more attractive at the sales. I figured that if we stopped training her at that point that she would never return to that racing form."

What Five Bar Molly has done is exceed even her owner's wildest expectations.

"I can't believe she won," he said. "I was just hoping to see her hit the board to improve her catalog page. This win came out of nowhere. I'm shocked."

Shocking indeed. Five Bar Molly didn't even compete in a recognized race from January 2002 to January 2007.

"She was in Mexico for about four years," Flores said. "My brother-in-law asked me if he could match race her there, so I sent her to him. She only ran about once or twice a year. She probably ran about five or six times in Mexico in races that were about 300 yards each. She was known as 'La Vispa' and she was racing at the top level there. Since they didn't run her much, she came back very sound. That's another reason why we decided to run her again."

Five Bar Molly has a 4-year-old daughter currently racing at Los Alamitos and just last year she had Corona Cartel embryo flushed out of her. She was going to be bred to A Regal Choice this year but that will have to wait until next year.

"We'll retire her after the Champion of Champions," Flores said. "We'll run her in the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap and we'll see what else. Why not run her in the Mildred Vessels? She just got done beating the boys so why not take on the girls. We expect some good ones to run there like Blazin Fire and Apollitical Time. A year ago I would have never dreamed that she would be running at this level, so why not give her a chance to run in these races."

Andrade made the most out of his chance to ride Five Bar Molly, as the 23-year-old was earning his first ever Grade 1 victory.

"Juan is a good kid," said Adan Farias Sr., who is assistant trainer in the Farias-stable. "He's still learning and he lacks experience but he is a great listener and he follows instructions perfectly. I was talking to him this morning and I told him that we could win this race if he rode with confidence. I asked him to give Five Bar Molly a good warm up and that's exactly what he did. When you have that type of teamwork you can win some races at Los Alamitos."

Erasmo Hernandez's Go Love A Lark Go earned $25,024 for running second. The son of Love A Lark won the A Ransom and Bellflower handicaps and has yet to finish out of the top three this year. Jeff Williams piloted the 5-year-old gelding.

He Storms, the third longest shot on the board at 30-1 odds, earned $17,664 for show. Racing for owner/breeder Ed Allred and trainer Scott Willoughby, the Separatist gelding was followed across the wire by Strength In Numbers, Dicey Dee, First Wicked Lady, Volcom, Work Up An Attitude and Tinys Lil Sis.

Flores called Five Bar Molly's victory as surprising as A Regal Choice's win in the 2003 Los Alamitos Million Futurity when the colt was moved up to first following the disqualification of Corona for Me. "We didn't expect either win," Flores said.

A Regal Choice's first crop will be 2-year-olds in 2008.

"We have 25 yearlings and about 25 weanlings right now," said Flores, who lives in Santa Ana. "We're going to breed a lot of mares to A Regal Choice next year, including Five Bar Molly."