LOS ALAMITOS, CA—NOVEMBER 5, 2017—With a strong finish under jockey Carlos Huetra, Splendid Cause defeated The Cartel Runner by half-a-length in the $30,000 Golden State Juvenile Sunday night at Los Alamitos Race Course. King Of Appeals finished a head back in third.

An Oklahoma homebred racing for J. Garvin Kelly, Nancy Yearsley and J. Floyd Yother, Splendid Cause completed the 400 yards in :20.050 seconds to take home the winner's payday worth $16,500.

Trainer Juan Aleman saddled the daughter of leading sire Apollitical Jess to her second win seven starts this season. The well-traveled filly broke her maiden at Remington Park then finished fifth in a Rainbow Futurity trial at Ruidoso Downs before arriving at Los Alamitos. She has banked $29,434 this season.

The royally-bred Splendid Cause is out of the Grade 3 winning Tres Seis mare Answer The Dream.

Jose Flores saddled runner-up The Cartel Runner for Mike Abraham, David Hinkins and Ross Hinkins. G. Jairo Rangel rode the daughter of Corona Cartel out of A Reason To Run by Mr Eye Opener. Bred in New Mexico by Balgo Racing Team Inc., The Cartel Runner picked up $6,750 for the effort.

Third-place finisher King Of Appeals Mv races for owner/breeder Paulo Otavio Freire MacEdo and trainer Paul Jones. Jesus Rios Ayala rode the Tres Seis colt out of Queen Of Appeals by First Down Dash. Also, a finalist in the PCQHRA Breeders' Futurity(G2) earlier this year, the sorrel colt has earned $20,650.

Walk It Man, Perfect Az Can Be, Snedeker, Headed For Utah, Dont Foose With Me, One Sweet Barbie and Rhemy Marko completed the field.