Racing


Aragon With A Double Plus Winning Connections Strike Again
Ed Allred's Ed Allred’s Dating Game won the only race for juveniles on Friday night's card at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Scott Martinez
Aragon With A Double Plus Winning Connections Strike Again

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—APRIL 23, 2017— A solid pro, that’s a fitting way to describe jockey Christian Aragon. The Peruvian rider’s abilities were on display on Friday evening at Los Alamitos, as he piloted the winners for the first two races of the night.

He first guided CD Ranch and Jesus Nunez’s Next Book to a hard-fought victory in the night’s opener to give the veteran gelding his fourth visit to the winner’s circle. Aragon then guided Mike Harrington’s Aiming Straight (photo) to his second victory of the year. Aiming Straight has finished second or better in all four of his outings in 2017 and always with Aragon aboard. For the meet, the veteran pilot has 13 first place finishes.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Ed Allred’s Dating Game won the lone race for juveniles on Friday night, as the daughter of TR Dasher upset a field of fillies by a head in the night’s fifth race. Ridden by Gary Boag for trainer Connie Hall, Dating Game was sent off at 15-1 odds and covered the 300 yards in :15.849.

Out of the mare Singles Scene, Dating Game is a full sister to Closing Time, the winner of the 2016 California Breeders Sprint Stakes winner and 2015 Jens List Memorial Stakes. She’s also a half-sister to Single Sadie, the runner-up in the 2008 California Breeders Matron Stakes and fourth place finisher in the 2007 La Primera Del Ano Derby.

Hall has done well with Allred’s young runners in recent years. Since 2013, Hall has won with eight of the 51 starters that she’s saddled for the Hall of Fame owner and breeder. The wins have come from the likes of Chicanery, More Than Wild, Misleader, Better Times and now Dating Game.

They’ve also combined to post seven runner-up efforts during that span. Chicanery qualified to the $1,031,000 Golden State Million Futurity and $352,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity in 2014, while More Than Wild finished fourth in the 2013 Governor’s Cup Futurity. Misleader gave Allred and Hall a stakes victory, as she took the 2015 California Breeders Freshman Stakes for fillies.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Eva Carrazco and Valentin Zamudio are going through a nice streak with their Quarter Horses. On April 2, the owner and trainer partnership enjoyed victory in the El Primero Del Ano Derby with Stelfast.

On Friday evening, the two were back in the golden enclosured after their Loveyoudad won the sixth race at 300 yards. Named in honor of 91-year-old Noz Sadakane, Loveyoudad broke his maiden on February 12 and then finished second on March 19 when claimed by Carrazco and Zamudio for $4,000.

The gelding by Masters Call waited over 30 days for his next start, but it was worth it, as he was great at the end to post a length victory in :15.76 with Cesar De Alba up. Cathy Monji is the breeder of Loveyoudad.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.