14-1 Upset As Invasive Outduels Cattail Cove In Azure Three Stakes

Equestix Consulting LLC’s Invasive is now a multiple stakes winner after upsetting a full field of 10 rivals to win the $25,000 Azure Three Stakes at 14-1 odds on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Ruben Lozano for trainer Valentin Zamudio, the Steve Burns-bred gelding by Favorite Cartel was fourth at the start but quickly found his top gear, moving up to third by the midway point of the 220-yard sprint. Surging late, Invasive took the lead with room to spare and held off the ageless Cattail Cove by a head to win in a sharp time of :11.802.

Invasive earned $13,750 for the victory, boosting his lifetime bankroll to $168,268 while scoring his fourth win in 20 career starts. It marked his second career stakes title, following his victory in the Adequan Los Alamitos Derby Challenge last season. He entered Saturday’s test after finishing fifth to Mask Mandate in the Grade 1 Go Man Go Handicap and third to Bold N Beautiful in the AQHA Los Alamitos Challenge Championship. Though considered for an invitation to the Grade 1 Robert Boniface Los Alamitos Invitational Championship, Invasive did not make the final list of 10, prompting his connections to pivot quickly to the Azure Three, a decision that paid off handsomely.

Trainer Valentin Zamudio admitted he had confidence in his 4-year-old gelding despite the stacked line-up:

“I wasn’t surprised with the win. The horse had enough speed for this distance. He had faced some tough horses and has not had much luck, but he looked good tonight because the truth is that this race looked really tough because there were a lot of fast horses.

“The horse can break. I liked him at this distance. I didn’t expect this race to come so tough, but that’s how it goes. There were a lot of speedsters. He fought hard because he didn’t break that great. He didn’t give up and he ended up finding a way.”

Along with Ruben Lozano, Valentin Zamudio was flanked with the winner’s circle by his son, Angel, who rarely misses a night of racing at Los Alamitos.

“My son loves the races and he’s out here helping me. I’m trying to teach him as much as I can. Maybe in the future he continues to do this and hopefully he has some luck down the road.”

The great Cattail Cove ran another gallant race to finish second, holding off the Paint Horse Turnpike Jammer by a nose to earn $5,625. That performance pushed Cattail Cove’s career earnings to $898,530 while marking the 42nd top-three finish of his incredible 64-start career. Making his fourth career appearance in the Azure Three, Link Newcomb's 9-year-old gelding by Favorite Cartel now boasts one win and two runner-up finishes in the event. He was saddled by Juan Aleman and ridden by Martin Arriaga.

Trained by Angela Aquino for owners Carla Akers and Randy Perkins, Turnpike Jammer collected $3,125 for his third-place effort, finishing just ahead of the newly arrived Grade 1 finalist Midnite Smokin.

Here’s the complete order of finish: Invasive, Cattail Cove, Turnpike Jammer, Midnite Smokin, Astronomical 123, Epic Wind, Poderoso, La Solita, Bogars Lil Jessie, and Deluxe Cartel.

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