LOS ALAMITOS, CA—APRIL 23, 2017— Terry Knight, a long time Thoroughbred trainer in the California racing circuits, enjoyed his first victory with a 2-year-old Quarter Horse after sending out Legacy Ranch’s Copacabana to victory in the fifth race on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Copacabana did make his connections wait, as he lost a horseshoe after she entered his stall in the starting gate.

"She has always done everything easily and obviously a concern whenever there is a delay," Knight said. "She hooked her hind shoe in the bar and it came off. Luckily one of the assistant starters saw it and they had time to repair it. She behaved well for the repair. We are relieved."

Once she was reshod and the race got started, Copacabana took off, winning the 300-yard race by 2 ½ lengths and in a time of :15.836.

"She’s running her shoes off," track announcer Ed Burgart said during the call of the race.

"It looks like there was plenty in the tank," Knight added. "It looked like she did pretty easily."

Not too many 2-year-olds win a race after having a last minute shoe repair.

"I can only remember one other baby win after needing a new horseshoe," said Chris Wade, the track’s simulcast broadcast analyst. "That repair happened in the paddock and the horse was a big favorite. To do what this filly just did is special."

Bred by Pete Parrella’s Legacy Ranch, Copacabana is by One Sweet Jess out of the Corona Cartel mare Copia. She came into the race after posting the fifth fastest of 50 gate workouts on April 1.

AQHA Champion Breeder Bobby Cox enjoyed a victory by one of his outstanding young runners after the One Dashing Eagle colt Hawkeye won the sixth race on Sunday night. The Texas-bred gray colt outdueled Ed Allred’s Noonly by a half-length to win the 300-yard dash for trainer Jose Flores and jockey Cruz Mendez. Hawkeye covered the distance in :15.891.

"It’s always good to see a 2-year-old that is smart at the beginning and watch them get it done," Flores said. "It’s exciting to watch them get better as they progress. It’s an honor to train for Bobby Cox. I hope I can do some good things for him. We have some nice babies for Mr. Cox and hopefully we can keep doing well."

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.