LOS ALAMITOS, CA—SEPTEMBER 23, 2016— Ed Allred’s Quirky will shoot for a racing triple double when the champion aged mare headlines a full field of 10 in the Grade 1, $100,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on Sunday at Los Alamitos. The 400-yard dash is set as the eighth race on the card.

In basketball, a triple double occurs when a player posts double digits in points, rebounds and assists in a single game. Quirky’s triple double could come about in a different way, as the champion aged mare is looking to make it two wins in a row in three different stakes races over the past two years. Ridden by Eulices Gomez for trainer James Glenn, Jr., Quirky has already won back-to-back runnings in both the Charger Bar Handicap and Matron Stakes (2015 and ‘16) and will now look to make it consecutive wins in the Mildred Vessels Handicap. Quirky was all business when she won the “Millie” last year, as she took the lead shortly after the start and then held off a solid run from Jess Cuz to win Quarter Horse racing’s top races for fillies and mares by a half-length.

Since winning the Southern California Derby in 2014, Quirky has won seven of eight starts. Her only loss came to World Champion Heza Dasha Fire in last year’s Champion of Champions. A successful title defend in the Mildred Vessels will earn Quirky a starting spot in this year’s Champion of Champions. Sired by Stel Corona, the 5-year-old Quirky has won nine of 17 career starts and earned $415,598. She will carry the 129 pound high weight in this race.

Double Bar S Ranch’s Jess Cuz is among the top contenders looking to spoil Quirky’s triple double. Trained by Elena Andrade, the 4-year-old mare by Mr Jess Perry will be making her 2016 stakes debut. She was an impressive allowance winner in her season debut in mid-June. Lucky Seven Ranch’s Sass Me Blue is another one to watch. She was second in the 2016 Charger Bar and she was in the money in the Golden State Derby, Los Alamitos Super Derby and Southern California Derby last year. Glenn Jr. will also saddle the stakes winner Take A Look for Allred in this event. Allred will also be represented by the Scott Willoughby-trained multiple stakes winner Nymph. The field will also feature 2015 La Primera Del Ano and PCQHRA Breeders Derby winner Bac In Front and 2016 La Primera Del Ano Derby winner Jess Good Reason. Political Chick, Tallulah Moon and Apolitical Zoom will also race.

Stakes Runners In Action On Sunday

In addition to the outstanding Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap field, a slew of horses with stakes experience will be in action on Sunday night at Los Alamitos. In the third race, Kindergarten Futurity finalist Katella Del will represent Paul Blanchard & Dutch Masters III in the 300-yard dash.

Meanwhile, Governor’s Cup Futurity finalist Smell Perfume will head the 330-yard, $12,600 allowance in the fifth race. Moving on to the sixth, First Down Dash Handicap winner Front And Center will race at 870 yards. Three stakes winners will face off in the $13,500 allowance race at 100 yards when Independence Handicap winner Lotta Dynasty faces Stanton Handicap winner Bemused and Cash For Kas Handicap winner Tres Magicals.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.