Grade 2 winner Chicks First Flash, under jockey Armando Cervantes, gets her first stake win in the $41,982 John Deere California Juvenile Saturday night at Los Alamitos Race Course.

© Amber Mendez

LOS ALAMITOS, CA—AUGUST 13, 2022—Five Livestock Company LLC and Steve Wright’s Chicks First Flash held off Johnny Trotter’s Famous Miss Kitty by a half-length to win the $41,982 John Deere California Juvenile Challenge on Saturday night to give trainer Monty Arrossa a sweep of the Bank of America Racing Challenge regionals held at Los Alamitos this year.

In addition to Chicks First Flash’s win, Arrossa won the Bank of America California Championship with Speed Dynasty a week ago and the Q-Racing Video California Distaff with Jet Wings One last Sunday.

The trainer also saddled Scoops Dynasty to victory in the Adequan California Derby back on May 22. Four regional races, four winners for Arrossa, assuring that he’ll have a truckload of talented runners likely heading to Horseshoe Indianapolis for the Bank of America Racing Challenge finals on October 22.

Owner Melinda Roche, trainer Monty Arrossa and jockey Armando Cervantes in the John Deere California Juvenile winner's circle. © Amber Mendez

Ridden by Armando Cervantes from post one, Chicks First Flash improved his record to three wins from five starts after a strong finish to win the 350-yard California Juvenile final.

Bred by Five Livestock Company, Chicks First Flash added this win to his victory in the Fred Scane Handicap on June 18. He also ran a game second in the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity on May 15 after posting the fastest qualifying time.

"That horse is very special to me," said owner/breeder Melinda Roche of Five Livestock. "I raised him. He’s out of my mare that my late husband gave me. I bred her, I foaled him out, I handled him every day of his life and he’s very special to me. He’s been a blessing. He’s in the (PCQHRA) Breeders Futurity. He’ll go in the trials next (on September 11)."

Owner-breeder Melinda Roche, and Chicks First Flash at Los Alamitos Race Course. © Amber Mendez

Chicks First Flash earned $19,312 for the win to take his career earnings to $81,937.

"He didn’t break as fast as he can, but he was fast enough out of there to maintain his position," Arrossa said. "Armando gave him an excellent ride and the horse finished strongly. I’m very happy with his effort. This horse is a gamer."

Ridden by Erasmo Gasca, the Trotter-bred Famous Miss Kitty ran a solid second throughout to earn $8,396 for her effort. Trained by Jose Flores, the Apollitical Jess filly has posted two excellent efforts at Los Alamitos since her arrival. Prior to this race, the Texas-bred broke her maiden by 1-½ lengths.

Flores also saddled M&M Racing Stables LLC’s Imm Born To Fly to a third place finish. The filly by second-crop sire Apollitical Spirit came into this race after running third to Chicks First Flash in the Fred Scane. Earning $4,198 in this race, Imm Born To Fly won her first two career starts. She’s finished in the top three in all four of her lifetime outings.

A Revenant Lady, J La Sultana, Jettin Gigi, The Train Station, Fired Up For This 1, Reminder, and Alternative Jess completed the field.

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