Champion Lethal Cowboy 123 and champion jockey Christian Ramos won the $35,000 Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap at Los Alamitos Saturday night.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 23, 2025–Lethal Cowboy 123, the  AQHA Racing champion 2-year-old and champion 2-year-old gelding in 2024, improved to five wins in as many career starts at Los Alamitos following his ½ length victory in the $30,000 Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap here on Saturday night.

With the championship-winning team of AQHA champion trainer Marc Jungers and AQHA champion jockey Christian Ramos, Lethal Cowboy 123 lugged out from the outside post number seven in the Sgt Pepper Feature. Still, he had the lead from the start and was never headed in the 350-yard race. Owned by Caliche Walls Venture LLC, Alan Isbell, Lance Bland, and Jimmy Barton, the son of Flying Cowboy 123 was picking up his ninth victory in 12 career starts.

Prior to this outing, which was his first at Los Alamitos in 2025, Lethal Cowboy 123 made three starts in New Mexico, two of them resulting in victory. He was part of the field in Grade 1 Rainbow Derby that was eventually cancelled due to the terrible flooding at Ruidoso earlier this summer.

He then finished out of the money in his All American Derby trial at The Downs at Albuquerque before connections decided to send him to California to start preparing for the trials to the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby. The Sgt Pepper Feature was the first step towards getting him ready for the Super Derby.

"He ran really great," Ramos said. "He started looking a little bit but it's because he was by himself, that's why. That horse is just outstanding. We were anxious in the gate but other than that he was a champion."

Champion trainer Marc Jungers and champion jockey Christian Ramos with the connections of Sgt Pepper Feature Handicap winner Lethal Cowboy 123 in the Los Alamitos winner's circle.
© William Zuazo

Ramos mentioned being anxious with Lethal Cowboy 123 adding the fact that Grade 1 finalist Cowboy Bolt broke through the gate prior to the start of the race. Cowboy Bolt was reloaded soon after and finished fifth.

Meanwhile, Lethal Cowboy 123 was sharp at the start and covered the distance in a winning time of :17.553. Bred by Veronia Gail Kawananakoa, the California-bred earned $16,500 for the win to take his career earnings to $1,359,133. During his juvenile year, he won both the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity and Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity.

"That (The All American trial) was an unfortunate race," Jungers said. "He qualified for the Ruidoso Derby, qualified for the Rainbow Derby, and coming back for the All American trials, that (race) was unfortunate. We decided to come back to Los Al as quickly as possible, and our goal was to prep him with this race to help him get ready for the Super Derby. That's why we're here. He got the job done. I was a little concerned. He shipped from Ruidoso to Albuquerque and then here. He's been on a van as much as any horse in the country, I would say. We're blessed that he got the job done." 

Edward Melzer Revocable Trust's Clareets Boy earned $6,750 for running second from post number six. Justine Klaiber piloted him for trainer Albert Valles.

Sandra Lee Ambus' Kid Cocinero, one of the best Paint Horses to race at Los Alamitos in the past 15 years, finished third to now give him three stakes place finishes against Quarter Horses here this season. With Martin Arriaga up, Kid Cocinero earned $3,750 for running third for trainer Angela Aquino.

Steel Blue Cartel, Holmybeeranwatchthis, and Mitchum completed the field.

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For more information, please get in touch with larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.

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