Racing


He Is The Risingstar Defends Barbra B Crown, Bemused Sizzles At 300 Yards
He Is The Risingstar got his fourth Los Alamitos stakes victory at 550 yards in Friday's Barbara B Handicap.

© Scott Martinez
He Is The Risingstar Defends Barbra B Crown, Bemused Sizzles At 300 Yards

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—JANUARY 20, 2017—The king of the 550-yard races at Los Alamitos reigned supreme once again in the $20,000 Barbra B Handicap, as Fulton Quien Sabe Ranches, LP’s He Is The Risingstar successfully defending his title in this race while holding off the Thoroughbred Miss Loujean by a neck on Friday night.

Ridden by Cesar De Alba for trainer Paul Jones, He Is The Risingstar was posting his fourth Los Alamitos stakes victory at 550 yards. The son of Mr Jess Perry improved his career record to seven wins in 19 starts, but he is a perfect four for four at this distance. In addition to winning back-to-back runnings of the Barbra B, He Is The Risingstar has also won the last two runnings of the Paul Ford Handicap.

''He is just a solid horse and I knew we’d be in good shape if he got a clean break,'' De Alba said. ''I could see that Vinnie Bednar and Miss Loujean were coming on at the end, but my horse finished strong.''

He Is The Risingstar earned $11,000 for the effort to take his career earnings to $118,760. The Mercy Hinklins-bred runner covered the distance in :26.70 over a wet fast track, which is the fastest clocking of his career at 550 yards. He Is The Risingstar posted the two fastest times at this distance last year (:26.80 in the Paul Ford and :27.10 in the Barbra B).

The now 5-year-old gelding ran in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby and was fourth in last year’s Grade 1 Vessels Maturity. Jones has now won the first two stakes races held at Los Alamitos in 2017. He also saddled Jess Good Reason to victory in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap on January 8.

Keith Craigmyle and Paul Lewis’ Miss Loujean posted a solid runner-up effort. The veteran 6-year-old mare was posting her 14th top two effort of her 35-race career. A winner at 870 yards in her previous start, Miss Loujean earned $4,500 to take her lifetime earnings to $214,940. The mare by Unusual Heat has been a solid performer during her career. She won an allowance race and $39,000 at Del Mar in July of last year and broke her maiden at Betfair Hollywood Park. She’s also won three races at Los Alamitos.

Carolyn and Ralph Fales’ FDD Dynasty gelding Mickey Ward finished third in the Barbra B. He was second in last month’s Paul Ford. Piloted by Cruz Mendez for trainer Matt Fales, Mickey Ward earned $2,500.

Front And Center, Dustys Classy Dash, Getit Quick and Kismet completed the field.

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Ed Allred’s Bemused dominated Friday’s $11,325 feature while posting the fastest 300-yard time at Los Alamitos in over five years.

Bemused, under jockey Eulices Gomez, running the fastest 300-yard time at Los Alamitos in over five years.
© Scott Martinez
The 6-year-old mare by Separatist covered the distance in :15.16 over a wet fast track and with an estimated tail wind of 25 miles per hour. This is the fastest clocking here since Better To Be Separate won in a 300-yard time of :15.054 on September 11, 2011.

Ridden by Eulices Gomez for trainer James Glenn, Jr., Bemused was picking up her eight win in 21 starts. Here are the meet’s fastest times at Los Alamitos in the past six years:

  • 2016: Bemused :15.16
  • 2015: Tell Jess :15.28
  • 2014: The Streakin Clean :15.19
  • 2013: Dash Too Blue :15.17
  • 2014: Check N Fetch :15.22 (twice)
  • 2012: Pot O Cash :15.21
  • 2011: Better To Be Separate :15.05

The track record at 300 yards is owned by Go Love A Lark Go of :14.863 posted on October 29, 2009.

Courtesy of www.losalamitos.com.