Curl Happy Wagon is qualifying for the All American Oaks.

© Coady Media

By Orlando Gutierrez

CYPRESS, CA–AUGUST 9, 2026–A competitive field of nine fillies and mares will sprint 350 yards in the $25,000 Florentine Handicap, which goes as Sunday night’s eighth race at Los Alamitos.

The class anchor of the field is Jackpot Farms' Curl Happy Wagon. The 4-year-old mare was excellent last season, winning two high-profile trials—including her heat for the Grade 1 $702,000 All American Oaks, where she qualified and faced the stellar Karmalites. She also qualified for the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Super Derby after finishing third in a trial to the eventual 2025 AQHA World Champion FDD Dreams. Making her 2026 debut, she looms as a primary threat.

M & G Farms’ Terra Fina enters off five consecutive stakes appearances, highlighted by third-place finishes in both the QHRAI Derby in Indiana and behind I Am Candy in the Denim N Diamonds. Competent steps up after placing third in the Rolling A Ranch Matron Stakes, where she gave chase to top fillies Caribbean and Quick She Is.

Powerful Wise Lady made her 2026 season debut on July 11, running a strong second to Matron runner-up Quick She Is in an allowance test. Meanwhile, Efren Viramontes’ Sheza Chilitos arrives off a gritty, hard-fought nose victory over Went To London on June 28. Mumbal brings intriguing upside; she has been off since her impressive last-to-first allowance win on December 7 and seeks a big performance in her first start of the year after a recent scratch.

Edward Melzer Revocable Trust's Fairlea Flyin is a consistent contender who captured an allowance three starts back and held third behind Budder Off Friends last out. Val Baby comes in off a sharp 220-yard workout (:12 flat on July 25). She was a surprising second against boys in the James Smith Memorial in early April. Rounding out the field from post nine is Jo Lee, who has two allowance victories this season and looks to return to top form after finishing out of the money against a top field in the Grade 2 Abigail Kawananakoa.

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