LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 4, 2010—Brian Hyde has enjoyed past success claiming Quarter Horses for low prices and then training them to become barrel races after the conclusion of their racing career. That may have been the plan for Fall For It at one point - Hyde claimed her for $6,250 on June 6 - but life as a barrel racer will have a wait a little longer for the Separatist filly based on the way she has been running recently.

Trained by Jim Hanson, Fall For It has put together three solid efforts in a row, highlighted by her victory in the $15,000 Chickasis Handicap for 2-year-old fillies on Friday at Los Alamitos.

Fall For It won the 350-yard race in a runaway, crossing the wire 2 ¼ lengths ahead of Abigail Kawananakoa’s This Royal Perks while covering the distance in a time of :17.46.

Prior to that victory, the Ed Allred-bred filly gave Ed Burke Million Futurity winner First Down Illusion a run for his money in a division of the California Breeders Freshman Stakes. Fall For It broke a length behind First Down Illusion but at the wire she was only a nose behind the Grade 1 winning colt. That effort followed a terrific 3 ¼ length win when she was plucked from the claiming ranks by Hyde.

“We thought that she would get better in races with more ground to cover,” said Hanson’s son and assistant, Ryan Hanson. “She’s done well in two 350-yard races. The spacing between the (July 31) Freshman Stakes and this race worked for her perfectly. To go against fillies after facing the boys was also perfect. She’s not paid into any big futurities at Los Alamitos, so our plan will be to look for handicap races for fillies. That’s our best option. The way she is running right now, perhaps we’ll start looking to see if there are any derbies next year that we can pay her into like the La Primera Del Ano Derby next April.

“If not, then we’ll keep running her in handicap races and if it’s only against filly the better,” Hanson concluded.

Fall For It improved her record to two wins from six starts. She’s hit the board four times now. Fall For It, who gave Jim Hanson his first handicap win with a 2-year-old at Los Alamitos, earned $8,250 for the win. She’s now made $18,172 in her career.

This Royal Perks suffered her first career loss in this race. She had previously posted a pair of ¾ length wins, first in a maiden race and then against allowance foes at Los Alamitos. Rafael Orozco saddled the Washington-bred filly.

Flare Checking, GC Blondie, Playful Choices, Miss Chivatos Pie, and Lady Mimosa completed the field.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com