Ruse Ticle Knockout returns to Los Alamitos for the La Pacifica Handicap, coming off a third-place finish in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks against a competitive sophomore filly division.

© William Zuazo

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–APRIL 29, 2026– The spotlight returns to the three-year-old filly division with a deep and competitive field of 10 sophomore stars facing off in the $25,000 La Pacifica Handicap this Saturday night at Los Alamitos. Contested at 350 yards, the race serves as a stakes reunion for five finalists from last month’s Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks.

Headlining the field is Mi Serenity’s Ruse Ticle Knockout, a daughter of Apollitical Jess who has been a model of professional speed since arriving in Cypress. After posting the second-fastest qualifying time in the Oaks trials, she proved her Grade 1 mettle with a gritty third-place finish in the $415,500 final. She faces a familiar foe in Steve Burns’ French Valley, the blue-blooded full sister to Champion Trane Station V, who finished just a head behind her in fourth place in the Oaks.

Also returning from the Oaks final is M and G Farms, Inc. and Steve Burns’ talented Shiny New. The daughter of Champion Quirky looks to regain the winning form she showed in her Valentine’s Day debut before running second to eventual Oaks winner Beuteeful in their 400-yard trial. Shiny New was a troubled seventh in the Oaks, marking the first time in her career she has finished out of the top three for trainer Valentin Zamudio.

Kolleen Ledgerwood’s consistent Fancy Upp, third in last year’s Governor’s Cup Futurity and a three-time graded stakes finalist, will also be in action. The Cesar De Alba trainee was eighth in the Oaks final but suffered a rough trip after being bumped from both sides.

Woodhouse-Singleton Racing’s Walk When I Walk returns to the gate after qualifying for the Oaks with a solid runner-up trial performance. While she was unfortunately scratched from the final, she returns Saturday looking to earn a spot among the division's best.

The spotlight returns to the three-year-old filly division with a deep and competitive field of 10 sophomore stars facing off in the $25,000 La Pacifica Handicap this Saturday night at Los Alamitos. Contested at 350 yards, the race serves as a stakes reunion for five finalists from last month’s Grade 1 Los Alamitos Oaks.

Headlining the field is Mi Serenity’s Ruse Ticle Knockout, a daughter of Apollitical Jess who has been a model of professional speed since arriving in Cypress. After posting the second-fastest qualifying time in the Oaks trials, she proved her Grade 1 mettle with a gritty third-place finish in the $415,500 final. She faces a familiar foe in Steve Burns’ French Valley, the blue-blooded full sister to Champion Trane Station V, who finished just a head behind her in fourth place in the Oaks.

Also returning from the Oaks final is M and G Farms, Inc. and Steve Burns’ talented Shiny New. The daughter of Champion Quirky looks to regain the winning form she showed in her Valentine’s Day debut before running second to eventual Oaks winner Beuteeful in their 400-yard trial. Shiny New was a troubled seventh in the Oaks, marking the first time in her career she has finished out of the top three for trainer Valentin Zamudio.

Kolleen Ledgerwood’s consistent Fancy Upp, third in last year’s Governor’s Cup Futurity and a three-time graded stakes finalist, will also be in action. The Cesar De Alba trainee was eighth in the Oaks final but suffered a rough trip after being bumped from both sides.

Woodhouse-Singleton Racing’s Walk When I Walk returns to the gate after qualifying for the Oaks with a solid runner-up trial performance. While she was unfortunately scratched from the final, she returns Saturday looking to earn a spot among the division's best.

The La Pacifica is far from a closed-door Oaks reunion, however. The "Oaks Five" will be tested by a formidable group of challengers, including The Lady Is A Vamp, a multi-graded stakes finalist with a penchant for masterful performances. The field is further bolstered by a quartet of sharp allowance winners from the 2026 season: In The Lead, Slatedtoshine, Straight Tequila, and Leavin The Cartel.

With a mix of established Grade 1 contenders and rapidly improving fillies, Saturday’s La Pacifica Handicap promises to be a thrilling showdown for the sophomore filly ranks at Los Alamitos.

The La Pacifica is far from a closed-door Oaks reunion, however. The "Oaks Five" will be tested by a formidable group of challengers, including The Lady Is A Vamp, a multi-graded stakes finalist with a penchant for masterful performances. The field is further bolstered by a quartet of sharp allowance winners from the 2026 season: In The Lead, Slatedtoshine, Straight Tequila, and Leavin The Cartel.

With a mix of established Grade 1 contenders and rapidly improving fillies, Saturday’s La Pacifica Handicap promises to be a thrilling showdown for the sophomore filly ranks at Los Alamitos.

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