Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap winner Jessica Cruz will make her first start since receiving her championship honors in the $25,000 Florentine Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–AUGUST 15, 2025–Gary Laramie’s Jessica Cruz, the PCQHRA and AQHA champion aged mare, returns from a seven-month layoff while making her first start since receiving her championship honors when heading a field of seven in the running of the $25,000 Florentine Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

The Florentine will be contested at 350 yards, a distance Jessica Cruz enjoyed when winning the James Smith Memorial Handicap in 2023. A three-time winner in her career at 350 yards, Jessica Cruz has been one of the most versatile mares on the grounds when it comes to winning races at different distances.

She won the Grade 2 Las Damas Handicap at 400 yards last year and the Azure Three Stakes at 220 yards. At 350 yards last year, the FDD Dynasty mare out of Jess Cuz was second in the Abigail Kawananakoa for distaffers and second in the Grade 2 Miss Princess. Elena Andrade will saddle Jessica Cruz, who’ll be ridden by Rodrigo Aceves from the rail.

The field will also feature P and J Racing’s AJ Born Runnin, a multiple stakes winner last year when winning the Virginia Hyland and the Denim N Diamonds. Racing twice this year, AJ Born Runnin was fourth in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap and most recently finished second in an allowance event for distaffers on July 26.

Eduardo Nicasio, who earned his 100th stakes win at Los Alamitos on AJ Born Runnin in the Denim N Diamonds last season, will pilot her for Jaime Gomez from post four.

RDS Legacy Racing LLC’s Deep Blue is the new face among this talented group of mares. She arrives after running fourth in the Grade 1 Junos Request for fillies and mares on May 31. She won the Grade 2 Heritage Place Oaks last year for trainer John Stinebaugh. Ali Rivera will pilot the A Revenant mare from post two.

The field will also feature Phoebes Baby Girl, Chicka Boom Babe, Relentless Looker Z and Dynamic Eyes.  

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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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