Ohana Spirit surged to a half-length victory in the $31,135 Cox Ranch California Regional Distaff Challenge on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–AUGUST 2, 2026–Gentry Farms, trainer Juan Aleman, and jockey Martin Arriaga completed a sweep of the weekend stakes after Ohana Spirit ran a picture-perfect race from post two to win Sunday’s $31,135 Cox Ranch California Regional Distaff Challenge at 400 yards at Los Alamitos

The victory capped a memorable double for the Gentry-Aleman connections following Bold N Beautiful’s strong victory over males in Saturday’s Grade 2, $43,010 AQHA Racing California Regional Challenge. On Saturday, Bold N Beautiful became the first mare since 2010 to capture the California Championship regional final, covering 440 yards in :21.727 under Eduardo Nicasio to hold off Grade 1 winner Scoops Dynasty.

Building on that momentum on Sunday night, Ohana Spirit ensured the stable's hot streak continued. Breaking cleanly under Arriaga at 3.40-1 odds, the four-year-old filly was in total control from the start. She grabbed a head lead shortly after the gates opened and held off a game bid from 3-2 favorite AJ Flawless by a half-length, stopping the timer in :19.929.

"We knew she was better than what she had shown," Aleman said. "In her last start (ninth in the Abigail Kawananakoa) she got left in the gate and got into a bunch of trouble. She had nowhere to run. I told Martin, ‘If she breaks tonight, she's going to be tough because she can handle these kinds of horses.’ She's proved that in the past. When she got away today, I said, 'We have a shot to win it' and she got it done. I give the credit to Mr. Gentry. He wanted to see Bold N Beautiful run 440 and of course, our other race for Ohana Spirit was the Distaff and it worked out. We'll see how they both pull up, which should be great, and they'll both be pointed to the (Grade 1) Mildred Vessels on September 12."

The victory marked the first stakes win for Ohana Spirit, a Kentucky-bred daughter of Tempting Dash out of Heartbeat. She has built a strong record in major trials, with three of her previous four wins coming in trials for the All American Futurity, All American Oaks, and Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity. Her previous best stakes result was a runner-up finish to champion Shaken Goin On in the Justanold Love Stakes.

With the $14,634 winner’s share, Ohana Spirit pushed her career earnings to $258,772 with five wins from 19 starts. The win also secures her an automatic starting berth to the Cox Ranch Distaff Challenge Championship at The Downs at Albuquerque on October 17.

Ohana Spirit paid $8.80, $4.00, and $3.00 across the board.

Larry and Bobbie Rice’s AJ Flawless, ridden by Edwin Escobedo for trainer Marc E. Jungers, finished second at 3-2 odds. Stalking close throughout, the Lobo Derby winner pressed the pace hard to earn $6,227, adding another graded stakes placing to her resume following top-three efforts in the Miss Princess Handicap (G2) and Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes (G2).

Longshot Racy Favorite finished third at 26-1 under Irving Lara for trainer Jose Antonio Flores, earning $3,114. Budder Off Friends rallied for fourth under Ricardo Ramirez, followed by Jessesflyingcowgirl in fifth under Jesus Rios Ayala.

Naive checked in sixth, while 4-1 second choice CM Jessa Blue Monday finished seventh after stumbling and being bumped at the start. CM Cowgirls Are Cool and VGK Zigfield Follies completed the field.

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