Hott Temptation, under jockey Martin Arriaga, won the Grade 1 $100,000 Mildred N. Vessels Memorial Handicap at Los Alamitos on Saturday.

© William Zuazo

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–SEPTEMBER 13, 2025–Top fillies Hott Temptation and Shaken Goin On meant business in the running of the Grade 1, $100,000 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap after they finished first and third, respectively, when taking on a stellar field on distaffers on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

In winning this race, Reliance Ranches LLC's Hott Temptation became only the fifth sophomore filly since 2000 to win the Mildred Vessels. The daughter of Tempting Dash scored her biggest win after the blazing fast Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks winner Shaken Goin On, at the midway point before finishing powerfully to hold off P and J Racing LLC's  AJ Born Runnin in the 400-yard race.

Hott Temptation earned a presumptive berth to the Grade 1 Champion of Champions with this victory.                         

Los Alamitos Director of Marketing Orlando Gutierrez presents the Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap stakes trophy to jockey Martin Arriaga and trainer Albert Valles.
© William Zuazo

Hott Temptation now joins Reason To Fly MV in 2021, Tequila Sangria in 2019, Blues Girl Too in 2007, and AB What A Runner in 2003 as the only 3-year-old fillies to win the Mildred Vessels this century.

Of those four, Blues Girl Too went on to win the Champion of Champions, making her the last filly to win the sport's most prestigious race for Quarter Horses 3-year-olds and up.

Ridden by Martin Arriaga for trainer Albert Valles, who was recording his first-ever Grade 1 stakes win, Hott Temptation earned $55,000 for the win while covering the distance in :19.679. Valles also saddled third-place finisher Shaken Goin On for owners James Sills and Abel Flores.

Martin Arriaga with Reliance Ranches colors.
© William Zuazo

Bred by Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches, Lp, Hott Temptation is out of the great broodmare Pandorum, a graded stakes winner and an earner of $70,437. Pandorum is the dam of the millionaire and Grade 1 All American Derby and Grade 1 Texas Classic Derby winner Hotstepper, the Grade 1 Ruidoso Derby and $682,793 earner Hotsempting, the Grade 1 stakes placed runner and $325,000 earner In Hott Pursuit, the two-time Grade 1 finalist Hot Pursuit, and the $97,000 earner Caliente Caramelo.

A full sister to Hotsempting and a half-sister to this other notable horses, Hott Temptation improved her record to six wins from 14 starts while taking her career earnings to $244,992. This was also her third consecutive win after taking the La Pacifica Handicap here and then going to Ruidoso Downs to romp home in a trial to the Rainbow Oaks.

Hott Temptation in the saddling paddock at Los Alamitos Saturday night. © William Zuazo

In the Mildred Vessels, Hott Temptation broke only behind AQHA and PCQHRA champion aged mare Jessica Cruz and Shaken Goin On before accelerating to the lead from post number seven. Once she went to the front, it was all about keeping AJ Born Runnin at bay, as the ultra-game mare began to make a strong move from the outside post number nine.

"Shaken Goin On went to the front but my filly started responding as we started to get going," Arriaga said. "She just kept going and going, and about 200 yards into the race, I felt that we were dominating the race. She was very calm in the gate before the start, and they told me she was very relaxed. She broke from there and did everything perfect."

Hott Temptation now gives Reliance Ranches what seems to be a powerful duo for the Champion of Champions, as the owners also campaign Brad McKinzie Los Alamitos Winter Championship winner Unrelentless.

The other horses with presumptive berths to the Champion of Champions are Hooked N Gone, the winner of the Debbie Schauff Remington Park Championship, Stanley Cartel, the winner of the Vessels Maturity, and FDD Dreams, the winner of the All American Derby.

Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Jaime Gomez, AJ Born Runnin earned $22,500 for her runner-up finish in the Millie. The 5-year-old mare by Apollitical Jess has finished in the money 13 times in her 26 starts, all coming at Los Alamitos. A multiple stakes winner here, she's made an appearance in 15 stakes races during her outstanding career.

Justine Klaiber piloted Shaken Goin On, who earned $12,500 for running third. This was her first loss at Los Alamitos in four starts. The top three finishers were followed by Budderhomesngarden, Miss Isao Jqm, Jessica Cruz, Curls Joyful Wagon, In The Mode, Rockin With Energy, and Market Analyst.

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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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