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© Scott Martinez
LOS ALAMITOS, CA—MAY 19, 2019—The father and son team of owner J. Francisco Diaz and trainer Lindolfo Diaz enjoyed their biggest win in Quarter Horse racing after their homebred gelding Chayito Cartel improved his record to a perfect three for three with a victory in the Grade 2, $361,700 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Racing from post number five with leading jockey Jesus Rios Ayala in the irons, Chayito Cartel broke with the leaders in the 300-yard race and got stronger with each stride, taking the lead shortly after the start and then holding off Bobby Simmons' Mental Error by a neck in the 65th running of the Kindergarten. Chayito Cartel, the 2-1 second choice in the wagering and the fastest qualifier in the trials, covered the distance in :15.430.
"Ayala said he broke well and it took about 200 yards to really get going. Mental Error pushed him pretty hard early on, but Chayito Cartel finished nicely," said the 31-year-old trainer Lindolfo Diaz. "I knew it would be a tough race. I thought we had a shot. All I wanted was a clean race. We got a decent start, a great ride and I'm just happy for my dad."
"It's special and having that man, my dad, here makes it even more special," the trainer said. "Words can't describe it. I'm just so happy for my dad. He's had horses for a while. He started with Charles Treece, then Juan Aleman and later Jose Flores. When I got out of high school I started (working) my dad's horses at the farm. It's a little ranch in San Diego. I was 18. I came here with Jose Flores and I was Jose's assistant. I learned a lot from him. He was my teacher, my mentor. I have 13 horses right now. My dad has six right now at the track. He told me tonight 'Win or lose, if we get a clean race just keep your head up. Hopefully we win, but if not you know you tried your hardest.' It was all up to (Chayito Cartel) tonight."
"He worked :12.5 first time and didn't break that sharp. He came back and caught the other horse. He impressed me right there. I told my dad, 'Hey, you know what, we might have something here so let's make that double payment for the Kindergarten.' Luckily, we had enough time to make the double. I had previously told him to drop him from the Kindergarten because when I breezed him, just a turn and work with another horse that I had, the other horse outworked him. I thought maybe he wasn't of that caliber, but he surprised me."
J. Francisco Diaz is not surprise to see his son enjoy stakes winning success. He knew that his son had a strong work ethic and that good things would eventually happen for him.
Diaz is hoping to keep building on his success with Chayito Cartel.
Ridden by Ramon Sanchez for trainer Paul Jones, the Favorite Cartel colt Mental Error earned $61,489 for his runner-up effort. Owned by Bobby Simmons, the gray colt is out of Iba Quick Chick by Chicks Beduino .The Steve Burns-bred runner was third at the start and ran solidly throughout.
Reliance Ranches LLC's Apollitical Jess filly Dreams Divine earned $43,404 for third for trainer Mike Robbins and jockey Ruben Castro. J.G. Kelly, J.L. Yother and Nancy Yearsley bred the filly in Oklahoma from the Tres Seis mare Answer The Dream.
The John Cooper-trained stablemates Cartel Jess Rockin and Chickititas Favorite, both also sired by Favorite Cartel, finished fourth and fifth, respectively. Favorite Cartel sired four of the top five finishers in this race. A Political Spell, Spectacular Corona, Corona Lake, Diamond Rock, and Leonel Bugatti completed the field.
Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.