LOS ALAMITOS, CA— JULY 26, 2014—Owner and breeder Ed Allred enjoyed a banner evening during the 15th edition of California Breeders Champions Night for state-bred Quarter Horses on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The AQHA Hall of Fame horseman had five wins as an owner during the all-stakes 14-race card, headed by Discontent’s impressive victory in the night’s richest race, the $352,500 Governor’s Cup Futurity, and by Once Over’s win in the card’s highest graded stakes race – the Restricted Grade 1 $100,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap. Allred also won the $25,000 Debutante Stakes with Quirky; the $25,000 Freshman Fillies Stakes with Take A Look; and the $20,000 550-Yard Sophomore Stakes with Sadie Sis. All five stakes win came with horses that Allred bred.

Separatist sired Discontent and Take A Look, while Walk Thru Fire sired Once Over, Stel Corona sired Quirky, and Kiddy Up sired Sadie Sis. Allred bred half of the winners on the 14-race card. Allred bred $25,000 Jens List Jr. Memorial Stakes winner Conquer All and Allred and Tom Seibly bred $25,000 Freshman Stakes winner Bouncer.

“It’s a very gratifying night,” Allred said. “But there’s also a little caveat to it. We’ve lost in California some notable breeders in recent years. Our game has been saddened by the loss of Spencer Childers, Frank ‘Scoop’ Vessels, and some years back we also lost Jens List. We haven’t been able to replace them and we need to. Dr. Steve Burns has become a major force in breeding, but we’d like to have more breeders. It would mean that I wouldn’t win as many races on this night, but that would be okay.”

Trained by Scott Willoughby and ridden by Rodrigo Aceves, Discontent’s performance in the Governor’s Cup Futurity would have been an impressive effort on any night. The gray gelding broke right alongside Steve Burn’s No Arizona and the dueled for the first part of the race. Discontent began to pull away 130 yards into the race, and from there he went on to post a ½ length victory as the 2-1 favorite. No Arizona, the longest shot on the board at 45-1 odds, held on to finish second for trainer Mike Casselman and jockey Cesar De Alba.

“We were running together right from the start,” Aceves said. “Then my horse started going and going and he dominated at the end.”

Discontent earned $148,050 while posting his third victory in five career starts.

“He is out of Reeds Val, a mare from very good bloodlines owned by Paul Reed,” Allred said. “I bought her for $90,000, but she had not been a good producer and had been a little disappointing. I always believed in her because she came from the same family as Ed Burke Memorial Futurity winner Mega Storm, but her babies always seemed to have bad luck. They would get hurt and were born with some type of an issue. This makes up for a lot of it.”

Bred by Foose out of the multiple stakes finalist Miss Kittys Bar Bet, No Arizona earned $59,925 for finishing in second place. Allred’s He Looks Hot, a full brother to Spencer Childers winner Once Over, broke out from post number 10 at the start, but was flying late while maintaining third place.

“I liked He Looks Hot a little better coming into this race,” Allred said. “Discontent ran a great race, but I still think that later on I’ll like He Looks Hot a little bit more.”

Allred’s Chicanery finished fourth with Fiery Kimbo, Mystery Man, Kickin Your Can, Hot Shot, Dash Of Red, and Hrh Walkonfire completing the field. Allred bred seven of the 10 horses in this race.

Once Over Takes Spencer Childers Handicap

Once Over ran second in the Spencer Childers Handicap last year to Allred’s Check My Thoughts, but this year’s 400-yard dash was all his thanks to a flying start and a solid finish to hold off Dean Frey’s Snowboundbeast. Like He Looks Hot, Once Over is the son of Walk Thru Fire and out of Look Her Over, who won the 550-yard Sophomore Stakes in the 2007 edition of Champions Night.

“It’s a great night for Look Her Over,” said trainer Scott Willoughby, who saddled Look Her Over to victory in that race. “She’s the mother of Once Over and He Looks Hot, plus Take A Look won the Freshman Fillies Stakes and Dashing Over was third in that race as well. Look Of A Dasher also finished second in the 550-Yard Sophomore Stakes. ”

Once Over has now won three stakes races this season with all them coming with Aceves aboard. None of them, however, were as nerve wracking for his connections as this one. Waiting for the race to begin, Once Over broke through the gate and had to be walked back into the gate.

“I thought we were done,” Willoughby said. “He had to be loaded back in the gate and I didn’t know if he would have anything left. I thought that maybe he had run his race right there.”

Once Over had plenty left, as he flew from post number six on the way to a ½ length victory. He earned $51,440 for his fifth win in 19 starts to take his lifetime earnings to $144,254.

“We’re hoping to qualify him to the Champion of Champions,” Willoughby said. “The Go Man Go Handicap (on September 20) and Robert L. Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship are possibilities (on October 18).”

Bred by Anita Bramlette, Snowboundbeast earned $17,615 for running third. He has finished second or better in eight of 10 career starts. Martha Wells’ New Look finished third. Mister Michael, Stel Heights, Henoshersecret, Last To Check Him, and High School Secrets completed the field.

Moonist Wins Governor' Cup Derby

Ron Hartley’s Moonist is now a two-time derby winner at Los Alamitos following his flawless effort in the $189,238 Governor’s Cup Derby at 400 yards. Bred by Vessels Stallion Farm LLC, Moonist was second early on, but he was too much at the end on the way pulling away to a half-length victory in a time of :19.573. His winning time was the fastest 400-yard clocking of the night.

“He’s a point in his career now that when he hooks another horse he doesn’t let them go past him,” said trainer John Cooper. “He’s not the best 3-year-old in the nation, but he’s getting there. He’s really good right now.”

Sired by Separatist and out of Los Alamitos Million Futurity winner Your First Moon, Moonist earned $81,102 for the win to take his lifetime earnings to $292,206. He’s also won nine of 16 career starts. The brown gelding won the El Primero Del Ano Derby earlier this season and is currently riding the wave of a four –race winning streak with jockey Cesar De Alba aboard.

“There was a time early in his career that he would leave the gate and he didn’t know where he wanted to go,” Cooper added. “He was disqualified from a race once and it cost him a spot in the Golden State Million Futurity. We had to go back to square one to get him to learn. He’s got it together now. He’s doing everything right. I’m very happy for Ron Hartley because he’s a great owner. He never has any complaints. He likes to support the California racing program.”

“This horse is good,” Hartley added. “And he’s good thanks to Mr. Cooper. He does all the work. After trials, he always comes back in good shape. That’s a great thing. He’s always good after the trials.”

Hartley added that Moonist could make his next start in the trials to the PCQHRA Breeders Derby on September 13.

“He’s also eligible to the Southern California Derby trials in December,” Hartley added.

Thompson Racing and Paul Jones’ Foose Is Loose, who came in after posting the fastest qualifying time, ran gamely to earn $32,287 for finishing second. Ramon Sanchez piloted the son of Foose. Jones also saddled third place finisher Another Storm, a Foose gelding he co-owns with Manuel Guerrero.

Well And Good, Dynasty of Habits, Dare To Flair, Flying Top Fueler, Nefertity, and First Rodeo completed the field. Up For It was scratched out of the race. The winner of last year’s Governor’s Cup Futurity has also been retired from racing according to her trainer, Scott Willoughby.

“She’s had foot issues and we don’t want them to become major issues,” Willoughby said. “We’re retiring her.”

The Kiddy Up filly won three of six career starts and earned $164,280.

Bouncer Wins Freshman Stakes

John Cooper saddled the talented 2-year-old Bouncer to a head victory in the $25,000 Freshman Stakes for Rod and Anna MacPherson.

“I couldn’t ask for better owners than the ones that I have,” Cooper said. “Ron is a joy to train for and Rod is a great owner as well. Ron has a photographic memory and knows a lot about racing. He cut his teeth with Thoroughbreds back East, but he has outstanding knowledge of Quarter Horses.

“We’ve always like Bouncer a lot,” Cooper said. “Jockey Alejandro Luna helped me with this horse and it paid off with a win.”

A veteran rider with over 600 Quarter Horse victories, Luna noted that he has ridden only a handful of horses for Cooper over the years.

“He gave me an opportunity and I was glad that it worked out,” Luna said.

“This horse is also a second time gelding and that’s helped him a lot,” Cooper said. “He wanted to breed everything that walked past him. We needed to make him a gelding and he’s got his mind on racing now. He used to break in the air. He ran a nice race. He’s in a lot of big races later in the year.”

Sent off at odds of 23-1, Bouncer covered the 350 yards in :17.669.

Old Six Six, Flying Foose, Off Beat, Cold Cartel, Roaster, Ways To Go, and Vacheron completed the field.

Quirky Takes Debutante

Trainer Jimmy Glenn Jr. saddled a pair of winners for Ed Allred. Quirky became a stakes winner thanks to superb finish at even money in the Debutante. With Cruz Mendez aboard, she covered the distance in a time of :17.519 at 350 yards. Quirky had previously finished second in the La Primera Del Ano Derby. She was also fifth in the Ed Burke Million Futurity last year.

“This is the first time I’ve ridden for Jimmy Glenn and he gave me a great one to ride,” Mendez said. “She broke a little slow, but she closed great.”

Quirky has won two of seven starts and her earnings of $13,750 pushed her lifetime total to $114,036.

Jaime Gomez’s Diamonds N Dynasty was second, while Susan Lucas’ Hannahs Double Love finished third.

Freshman Fillies Goes to Take A Look

Ridden by Carlos Huerta, Take A Look gave Glenn his other winner of the night in the Freshman Fillies Stakes.

Sent off at 4-1 odds, Take A Look crossed the wire a half-length ahead of Helen Beamer’s Tavarua while covering the distance in :17.716.

This was her second win from three career starts. She came into this race after a third place finish in a tough allowance race that included Kindergarten Futurity fastest qualifier Zoomilicious and Governor’s Cup Futurity sixth place finisher Mystery Man.

Native Tea Rose Adds Matron Stakes

Abigail Kawananakoa’s Native Tea Rose won the $37,000 Matron Stakes by a neck over the gutsy Beautiful Fire to post the fourth stakes victory of her racing career at Los Alamitos. In addition to the Matron Stakes, Native Tea Rose had previously won the Grade 2 $100,000 Charger Bar Handicap on January 5, the $35,000 Las Damas Handicap on December 8, and the Stel Corona Overnight Handicap on August 16.

“What a great race from this filly,” said Paul Jones, who saddled Native Tea Rose. “I had two horses earlier on the card that got beat at the end so when I saw Beautiful Fire coming on strong I was starting to get worried that she was going to get by Native Tea Rose. Native Tea Rose stayed strong and didn’t let her go by.”

Ridden by Ramon Sanchez, the Bob and Jerry Gaston-bred mare earned $20,000 for the win to take her lifetime earnings to $258,655. She covered the distance in :19.705.

“We’ll now look at the racing schedule and figure out what’s next for her. Our ultimate goal would be the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap (on September 28), “ Jones added.

The winner of the Mildred Vessels earns an automatic starting berth to the Champion of Champions.

Forest Fires Rallies In Sprint Stakes

Jones also saddled Mimi Wells’ 7-year-old gelding Forrest Fire to win the $20,000 Sprint Stakes. In one of the most exciting races of the night, Forrest Fire rallied from fifth place to catch Separate Card and Thrifty in the final strides to win by a nose.

The son of Walk Thru Fire was picking up his ninth win in 46 career starts. He earned $11,000 for his effort to lift her career bankroll to $326,958. This is the third stakes win of his career. He previously won the Katella Handicap and Whosleavingwho Handicap. He also has a slew of Grade 1 stakes racing experience, particularly during his freshman and sophomore campaigns.

“He’s a classy old guy,” Jones said. “He looked beat early on, but was flying at the end.”

“That was such an exciting race,” Wells said. “He’s my boy and I’m so excited to see him win.” Asuncion Madrid’s Separate Card earned $4,500 for running second, while Fabian Griego’s Thrifty earned $2,500 for running third.

Conquer All Wins Jens L. List Memorial

Champions Night has been good to Alberto Duenas. The owner won his first trophy ever with Flying Kyle in the Senior Claiming Stakes for $10,000 claimers last year, and now he’s got two trophy after Conquer All outdueled Front And Center to win the Jens L. List Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds.

Duenas owns Conquer All in partnership with Raul Moreno. Santiago Mendez piloted the Foose gelding for trainer Jose Antonio Moreno. Conquer All has won three of five starts since being claimed for $16.000 back on September 27.

“I started owning horses about four years ago,” Duenas said. “I’ve only had about six horses, but we’ve had some good luck with them. This was a good race. We had our eye on this horse for a long time before we claimed him. We liked him a lot.”

Conquer All covered the 400 yards in :19.792. He earned $13,750 for first place to take his career earnings to $32,132. Ronald Skeen and Fawna Knight’s Front And Center earned $5,625 for finishing second. Martha Wells’ Inpursuit ran third.

Allred Runners Run 1 thru 4 in Sophomore Stakes

Ed Allred’s most dominant performance on the Champions Night card came in the $20,000 550-Yard Sophomore Stakes, as the owner was represented by the top four finishers in the race. Allred was also the breeder of the top five finishers in this event. The win went to the Kiddy Up filly Sadie Sis. She was the only female sprinter in this event.

“She’s always wanted more distance,” Willoughby said. “We had (8-5 favorite) Look Of A Dasher in this race, but I thought Sadie Sis would do well. She’s always looked for more ground. She’s by Kiddy Up and we just think he’s going to be an outstanding sire.”

Ridden by Antonio Alberto, Sadie Sis earned $11,000 for the win. This was her fourth win in 13 career starts. Sadie Sis was also one of only three wire-to-wire winners on Champions Night. Once Over and Tac In My Shoe were the other two.

Sadie Sis was followed by Allred’s Look Of A Dasher, China Wall, and Mesa Marvel. Allred also bred fifth place finisher Miner Sam, who races for Anna MacPherson.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Champions Night kicked off with a pair of longshot winners in the form of Martha Wells’ Hez Stellar and Madison Rae Baber’s Almost Always True. The two homebreds were both were sent off at 18-1 odds in their respective races, and they both came through for their supporters. Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, Hez Stellar posted a neck victory in the $15,000 Senior Claiming Stakes for $5,000 claimers, while the Jose Flores-trained Almost Always True won the $17,500 Sophomore Claiming Stakes for $10,000 claimers. Cruz Mendez rode the Tac It Like A Man gelding out of True Mistral.

Meanwhile, Hez Stellar is out of Chicks Tell, a proud mother of three stakes winners during this Champions Night. Chicks Tell is also the mother of the 7-year-old multiple stakes winner Forrest Fire and of Dash To Tell, who won the Sophomore Claiming Stakes for $5,000 claimers. Owned by Francisco Diaz and trained by his son, Lindolfo, Dash to Tell rallied to win as the even money favorite. Bred by Marthat Wells, the son of TR Dasher was also ridden by leading pilot Cruz Mendez.

“I have 10 horses running (on Champions Night) and that’s a pretty good number for a small breeder like me,” Wells said. “It’s a good night for Chicks Tell.”

Owned by Jose Camacho and trained by Herbert Ho, Tac In My Shoe posted her fourth win from her last five starts to win the $17,500 Senior Claiming Stakes for $10,000 claimers. With Cruz Mendez aboard, the daughter of Tac It Like A Man earned $9,625 for the win.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.