Train B Taka, under jockey Edwin Escobedo, won the $25,000 Vandy's Flash Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–JUNE 21, 2025–Owned by Cheryl Stokes, Armando Arreola and Tungsten Racing Partnership, Train B Taka scored his third stakes win of the meet, this time in comfortable fashion in the running of the $25,000 Vandy's Flash Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Train B Taka's previous stakes win was a nose victory over Sandra Ambus' sizzling fast Paint Horse Kid Cocinero in the running of the Dillingham Stakes. In the Vandy's Flash, Train B Taka was on top right from the start and never looked back to post a ¾ length win at 4/5 odds.

Owned by the partnership of Bradley Hart, Santos Montemayor, Omar Torres, and Mark and Marta Winslow, Steel Blue Cartel finished second, while Kid Cocinero settled for third after racing second most of the way.

The winning connections of Train B Taka, Roman Figueroa, Edwin Escobedo and Hector Jaramillo accept the Vandys Flash Stakes trophy at Los Alamitos. © Amber Mendez

On this night, Train B Taka steamrolled to victory under jockey Edwin Escobedo for trainer Marc Jungers.

In picking up his seventh win in 12 career starts, the sophomore gelding by Freighttrain B covered the 350 yards in :17.571 while earning $13,750. That took his career bankroll to $184,317. He also won the Holiday Handicap here on the meet's opening night.

 "Tonight, he left there running nice," Escobedo said. "He just drew away from them. He was real strong at the end. He didn't give them a chance tonight. The biggest thing about him is that he has a real big heart and is honest. Every race he gives you what he's got. He will never leave (the track) without giving you his all."

Ridden by Cruz Mendez for trainer Jose Flores, the Favorite Cartel gelding Steel Blue Cartel earned $5,625 for his runner-up effort. He came into this race after running second in the Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge on May 18. Stephen and Lisa Ralston bred the brown gelding in Oklahoma from the Jess Louisiana Blue mare Jess Paint Your Lips.

With Cesar Franco up for trainer Angela Aquino, Kid Cocinero picked up a $3,125 check for running third. The Paint Horse by leading APHA sire CM Livewire has now posted three strong efforts since arriving at Los Alamitos. The gelding races for owner-breeder Jon and Brant Barley.

Coo Joe, See It Clearly, Favorite Semental and Holmyberranwatchthis completed the field.

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