Greg Torgerson's Joe Legacy sticks his neck in front to win the John Ward Handicap at Los Alamitos Friday night.

© Scott Martinez

“I started when I was five,” said the 65-year-old native of Fillmore, Utah.

Brinkerhoff has learned his lessons well in the six decades since, as proven by the results of his second visit to Los Alamitos following his first arrival here in 2013. Landing at the Orange County with a stable of seven runners, Brinkerhoff has won three races from his seven starters this season, a nice patch that was culminated by Joe Legacy’s victory in the $15,000 John Ward Handicap on Friday at Los Alamitos.

“I’ve been training for 30 years,” Brinkerhoff clarified. “It’s gone well here. A few of my horses have been claimed, but I still have four of them right now. I’ll be going back to Utah soon. My dad past away recently so I have some things that I need to take care of. I do want to come back to Los Alamitos again next year. I’d like to come back, buy a house, and train some horses here.”

Owned by Greg Torgerson, Joe Legacy had a gritty performance in the John Ward, as he battled a strong cast of Intermountain and Northwest runners before coming out on top in the final strides with 19-year-old jockey Jesus Canales aboard. The victory was an early birthday present for the rider.

“He’ll be 20 this Sunday,” Brinkerhoff said. “Jesus started riding three years ago. He’s done great out here.”

Last but not too far behind in the field of six at the start, Joe Legacy was all guts in the 400-yard dash, as he was facing a strong field headed by two-time Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap winner PF Flyair and defending John Ward winner Margaritas N Coronas. The son of Brookstone Bay made up ground with each stride and he was best in the final jumps while posting a neck victory over Mike Harrigfeld’s Balata Joe Now.

Sent off at odds of 8-1, Joe Legacy covered the distance in :20.001. The victory was his fourth in 14 career starts. This was his first win in two outings at Los Alamitos. He ran third in the October 3 Kip Didericksen Handicap. Joe Legacy earned $8,250 for this win.

Ridden by Carlos Huerta for trainer Bret Vickery, Balata Joe Now earned $3,375 for running second.

PF Flyair, Tlm Dreams, Margaritas N Coronas, and Hes Chillin completed the field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.