LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 1, 2016—Ron Hartley has another horse to be very proud of at Los Alamitos. The longtime horseman already campaigns the popular champion and multiple Grade 1 winner Moonist and also this year’s Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes winner My Favorite Check.

In the 2-year-old ranks his American Force rates as one of the most impressive juveniles to have raced here this season. Hartley can now add to that list the impressive One Proud Eagle, a gelding by One Famous Eagle which posted the fastest qualifying time to the $428,400 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Tony Guymon, One Proud Eagle won the first of 11 trials in a time of :15.558 on the way also breaking his maiden in his second career start. Trained by John Cooper, who also conditions Moonist, My Favorite Check and American Force for Hartley, One Proud Eagle came into the race after a trouble third when facing the well regarded Evil Genius and Kindergarten Futurity second fastest qualifier Chazaq on April 8.

Leaving the gate from the outside post nine, One Proud Eagle had no trouble in his return effort and will now lead a solid field in the richest running of the Kindergarten since Runaway Winner in 1987. The Kindergarten final will be held on Sunday, May 15.

"I didn’t know how he would do from the outside post," trainer John Cooper said of One Proud Eagle. "He got roughed up pretty good the last time out. I had pretty good hope for him."

Cooper had his doubts as to whether One Proud Eagle’s time in the early evening trial would be enough to qualify to the final. "I don’t think it could hold us in the top 10," Cooper started. "But I could be wrong," he concluded.

Cooper was happily right to be wrong about One Proud Eagle’s clocking. He’ll go into the rich Kindergarten as the top qualifier. Out of the young broodmare Guy Chasing, One Proud Eagle is a half-brother of the hard-knocking runner Blu Brusier, who hit he board in six races at Los Alamitos.

His granddam is the multiple derby winner Girl Secrets, winner of races like the Grade 1 Golden State Derby, Grade 2 La Primera Del Ano, and California Sires Cup derbies during her career. Her son, Secret Path, won the 2010 Dillingham Handicap.

Hartley, Cooper, and Guymon also joined forces to qualify Jess A Chick Magnet, which was runner-up to second fastest qualifier Chazaq in the eighth race. Dutch Masters III’s Chazaq ran powerfully from the outside post nine while recording a time of :15.594. After the race Dr. James Streelman of Dutch Masters III had some great news to share.

"This is the real Dutch Masters on this one," Streelman said. "Denny Boer and I both. He’s back with me. Just got off the phone with him and he’s very happy. (Trainer) Jaime Gomez told me that (Chazaq) is the best 2-year-old in his barn. He didn’t break, but he came running."

Streelman and Boer decided to team up as owners again during the All American Sale at Ruidoso Dows.

"I have a home in Ruidoso and I am at the sale every year," Streelman said. "I said ‘Denny, why don’t you get involved?’ He said that (Lin Melton) would get him one and he did. He said ‘You know pick one out that is not terrible expensive.’ I did and we’re partners on this one."

Chazaq comes from an outstanding family. The gelding by Corona Cartel is out of All About Ease, the dam of 2009 Rainbow Futurity winner Zoomin With Ease. She’s also the mother of All N The Jeans, which ran third in the 2010 Kindergarten. All N The Jeans also qualified to the Ed Burke Million Futurity while earning over $120,000 on the track.

For the complete list of Kindergarten qualifiers, times, sires, dams, owners, breeders, trainers and jockeys CLICK HERE.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.