California Breeders Champions Night Shines with Full Slate of Undercard Stakes at Los Alamitos

CYPRESS, CA–JULY 26, 2025–A stellar evening of California-bred Quarter Horse racing is set to unfold Saturday at Los Alamitos with the 26th running of California Breeders Champions Night, featuring a rich lineup of six stakes races topped by the prestigious Governor’s Cup Futurity (see related story) and Governor’s Cup Derby (see related story).

The nine-race program boasts total purses of $646,300, with a combined $610,000 up for grabs in the stakes events.

Highlighting the depth of competition and state-bred talent, four key undercard stakes were also be contested, setting the stage for a memorable night of racing under the lights.

Cattail Cove Prevails in Spencer L Childers Championship Handicap

Cattail Cove delivered a determined victory in the $75,000 Spencer L Childers California Breeders’ Championship Handicap at Los Alamitos on July 26, prevailing in a thrilling three-way finish over 400 yards.

The 8-year-old brown gelding by Favorite Cartel, out of Katie Katella (by Separatist), broke sharply and held strong through the wire to win by a half-length and two noses in a time of :19.919, earning a Speed Index of 104 under fast track conditions with no wind reported.

Bred by Steve D. Burns DVM, he is owned by Link Newcomb, trained by Jose Antonio Aleman, and was ridden by Marco Arriaga. Cattail Cove, a $62,000 purchase at the 2018 Ruidoso Yearling Sale, banked $41,250 for the victory, pushing career bankroll over $820,000.

“He’s the longest horse I’ve ever had in my barn,” Aleman said. “I’ve had him since he was two. We broke him, we brought him along, he’s a special horse for the barn. I’m so thankful to Link for giving me the opportunity to train a horse like this. The horse has so much heart. He had to run a big race tonight and he did. He’s lost a step at the start with age but once he gets rolling and if they’re not too far away from him, he seems to know where the finish line is and get there before the other horses do. He’s an amazing animal to see him running at the level that he’s running at his age. He’s a wonder and a miracle that he’s still doing this. We’re happy to have him, and he’ll let us know when it’s time to retire him. We’ll see how he pulls up and maybe the Go Man Go (at the end of August) is next.”

Second-place finisher Boardwalk, a 4-year-old bay gelding by Favorite Cartel out of Nymph (by Foose), closed strongly to finish a neck behind. Bred and owned by Edward C. Allred, he is trained by Scott Willoughby and was ridden by Rodrigo Ramirez. Boardwalk was an RNA at $270,000 in the 2022 Los Alamitos Equine Mixed Sale.

Third place went to Listen Now, a 3-year-old sorrel gelding by Fly Thru the Fire out of Now Listen Here (by Favorite Cartel), also bred and owned by Allred. Trained by Willoughby and ridden by Jose Nicasio, Listen Now was an RNA at $25,000 at the 2023 Los Alamitos Equine Mixed Sale and earned $9,375 for the effort.

Market Analyst Narrowly Captures Rolling A Ranch Stakes

In the $50,000 California Breeders’ Rolling A Ranch Stakes at 350 yards, Market Analyst surged late to win by a head in a final time of :17.827, registering a Speed Index of 96 on a fast surface.

The 4-year-old bay filly by Favorite Cartel out of Bartiromo (by Walk Thru Fire) was bred and is owned by Steve D. Burns DVM, trained by Michael Casselman, and piloted by Cruz Mendez. Market Analyst was a $42,000 repurchase at the 2022 Ruidoso Select Sale and earned $27,500 for the win.

For Burns, a three-time AQHA Breeder of the Year, it’s always important to have one of his talented racing mares become a stakes winner. Market Analyst now has that distinction which means a successful career in the breeding shed is in her future.

“She’s been a top qualifier to a derby here last year but wasn’t able to run back,” Burns recalled. “It’s great to finally get a stakes win. Her mother is a Walk Thru Fire mare out of Babe On The Fly, who next to Remember Me Rose has been our best producing mare. It’s good to see Market Analyst have this success.”

Runner-up In The Mode, a brown filly also by Favorite Cartel, is out of Make Over (by Separatist), bred and owned by Allred. Trained by Willoughby and ridden by Guillermo Lara, she earned $11,250 after finishing a head behind.

Third-place finisher Heather Denise, a 5-year-old mare by Jess Being Valiant out of Six Zeroes (by Walk Thru Fire), closed well to finish 1¼ lengths behind the top pair. Bred and owned by Howard Nichols, she is trained by Elena Andrade and was ridden by Cesar Franco, collecting $6,250.

See It Clearly Dominates Debutante Stakes

In the $30,000 California Breeders Debutante Stakes for 3-year-olds, See It Clearly scored a clear ¾-length victory at 350 yards, stopping the clock at :17.810 and earning a Speed Index of 96.

The sorrel filly is by Fly Thru the Fire and out of Full Moon (by Favorite Cartel), bred and owned by Allred. She was trained by Willoughby and ridden to victory by Guillermo Lara. See It Clearly was a $13,000 RNA in the 2023 Los Alamitos Mixed Sale and earned $16,500.

Deluxe Cartel, a chestnut filly by A Mere Felix out of Jessadeluxe (by One Famous Eagle), finished second by a head for owners Jesus R. and Juan Gabriel Castro. Bred by EG High Desert Farms LLC, she was trained by Valentin Zamudio and ridden by Ruben Lozano, picking up $6,750. She was a $4,000 purchase at the 2023 Los Alamitos Mixed Sale.

Third went to Alexia Czech, a bay filly by Corona Czech out of Letty Bail Regis Out (by Bail Me Out Baby), bred and owned by EG High Desert Farms LLC, trained by Jose Nunez, and ridden by Rodrigo Ramirez. She earned $3,750 and was a $13,000 RNA last year.

Up For Everything Edges Foes in Sprint Stakes

Opening the evening was the $25,000 California Breeders’ Sprint Stakes, where Up for Everything held on to win by a nose in a time of :17.726 at 350 yards, with a Speed Index of 97.

The 5-year-old brown gelding by Favorite Cartel out of Up for It (by Kiddy Up) was bred and owned by Allred, trained by Willoughby, and ridden by Guillermo Lara. He was a $75,000 RNA at the 2021 Los Alamitos Mixed Sale and took home $13,750 for the win.

"He’s a big horse but he seems to get away from the gate great," Willoughby said. "He doesn’t finish as well as Defending Champ. We put him in the Sprint going 350 and it worked out just right."

Winners Share, a 4-year-old brown gelding by Seperate Interest out of One Sweet Winner (by One Sweet Jess), finished second by a head. Bred and owned by Steve D. Burns DVM, he is trained by Casselman and was ridden by Ruben Lozano, earning $5,625.

Third was Jess Being a Friend, a 6-year-old sorrel gelding by Jess Being Valiant out of Six Zeroes (by Walk Thru Fire), bred and owned by Howard Nichols, trained by Andrade, and ridden by Ruben Aceves, finishing just a nose back and earning $3,125.

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