Fastest qualifier SM Jess Corona will head the $115,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes (not black type) on Sunday.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–FEBRUARY 23, 2024–Adan Farias will saddle two strong contenders including fastest qualifier SM Jess Corona in the running of the $115,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes (not black type) on Sunday at Los Alamitos.

Owned and bred by Santos Montemayor, SM Jess Corona surprised all when he won his trial race at 30-1 odds while covering the distance in the trials' fastest time of :17.598 at 350 yards.

Farias is just as thrilled with his other runner, Relief Factor, who like SM Jess Corona also won his Maiden Stakes trial. Owned by Jesus Avila, Relief Factor had the third fastest time of :17.698.

 "I had five horses going into the trials and I thought he was my best horse," said Farias, who has saddled 1,160 winners in his Quarter Horse training career. "He went to Ruidoso and ran a really solid race in his trial to the (G1) All American Futurity. He came back here and ran second in his trial to the (G1) Golde State Million Futurity. I always thought he was a good horse. He then broke his maiden and before that he finished fourth, but with a fast time. I thought he was one of the better horses in that race. Coming back in the Maiden trials, I thought he was doing well."

Relief Factor, who also finished in his trial to the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity, is by Seperate Interest and out of the mare You Caught My Eye, who earned $125,958 and ran in five graded stakes events in her racing career.

As for SM Jess Corona, the gelding by Kvn Corona will look to give Montemayor his second victory in the Maiden Stakes. The owner and breeder co-owned the multiple Grade 1 stakes finalist TR Eddie, who won the Maiden Stakes in 2011.

"SM Jess Corona is doing really well," said Farias. "He's on his toes and he's ready. No excuses if he loses."

Rodrigo Aceves piloted Relief Factor and SM Jess Corona in their trial wins and has decided to stick with the fastest qualifier. Farias added that the Heath Taylor-trainee Amore For A Reason will be one of the runners to beat in the Maiden Stakes final.

 "She looks really tough," he said.

Owned by L O S LLC. and Super Champion, Inc., Amore For A Reason enters as the second fastest qualifier after winning her trial by ¾ lengths in :17.656. The filly by Good Reason SA won her previous start before the trials and was second in her only other outing when making her racing debut at Ruidoso Downs on May 27.

A total of five trials were held for this race with Foosea and AJ King Crown also scoring victories. They also finished as the fourth and fifth fastest qualifiers, meaning that the top five horses on the night of trials were the winners of each of the trials.

Mr Favorite, Mambacita, Freddie, LJ Lucky 7, and Politicaly Extoled V will complete the field.

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For more info' please contact larace@losalamitos.com. Follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.