Cattail Cove, an eight-time stakes winner, headlines a competitive field of seven in Saturday’s Grade 3 Kaweah Bar Handicap at Los Alamitos, seeking his first win in the race in his fifth attempt.

© William Zuazo

By StallioneSearch

CYPRESS, CA–APRIL 22, 2026– Four stakes winners, led by Restricted Grade 1 winner Cattail Cove and Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby winner Show N Tell Cartel, headline a field of seven talented older horses in the Grade 3, $40,000 Kaweah Bar Handicap this Saturday at Los Alamitos. The eight-race program also features six races for juveniles, most of whom are prepping for the trials of the Grade 1 Ed Burke Memorial Futurity on May 31.

Cattail Cove Seeks Elusive Kaweah Bar Title in 61st Career Start

Owned by Link Newcomb, Cattail Cove continues his remarkably durable career as he makes his 61st lifetime start. The son of Favorite Cartel is an eight-time stakes winner, including a victory in the 2025 Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap. While he has captured top races like the Moonist Stakes and Independence Day Handicap, he is still seeking his first Kaweah Bar victory at 350 yards in this, his fifth attempt. He has come close before, finishing second in 2022 and third in 2024. Martin Arriaga will pilot the Steve Burns-bred 9-year-old from post one.

Will this be a Show N Tell night in Kaweah Bar?

Show N Tell Cartel, owned by Francos Ranch and Mario Tellez Montiel, has competed at the top level in each of his last 10 starts. That run includes an upset victory in the El Primero at 10-1 odds, as well as appearances in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby and Grade 2 Southern California Derby finals. Most recently, he competed in the Grade 1 Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship. Cesar Franco rides for trainer Elena Andrade from post two.

Proven Experience

Howard Nichols’ Jess Being A Friend, a 7-year-old homebred, makes his 42nd career start searching for his second stakes win. Winner of the 2022 A Ransom Handicap, the Jess Being Valiant gelding is making his third appearance in the Kaweah Bar; he finished third behind Kevins Wise Corona in last year's edition.

In addition to their extensive resumes, Jess Being A Friend and Cattail Cove share a significant milestone: both veterans boast runner-up finishes in California’s richest Quarter Horse race, the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity (Cattail Cove in 2019; Jess Being A Friend in 2021). Andrade also trains Jess Being A Friend, who will be ridden by savvy veteran Rodrigo Aceves from post three.

The Field

Ed Allred’s Cheater, winner of the 2024 Jens List Memorial, completes the quartet of stakes winners. He will be ridden by Gabriel Lara for trainer Scott Willoughby.

The field from the rail out:

1. Cattail Cove
2. Show N Tell Cartel
3. Jess Being A Friend
4. Winners Share
5. Fire Tools 123
6. Cheater
7. CM Jesse B A Cowboy

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