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LOS ALAMITOS, CA–JULY 26, 2025–For the second time in the past three years, Mike Casselman won the Governor’s Cup Futurity with a horse which he bred, owns and trains after the Mpshinning gelding Mayor Humdinger outfinished fastest qualifier El Dictator by a neck to win the Restricted Grade 2, $255,000 final on Saturday night at Los Alamitos.

The Governor’s Cup Futurity was the richest of six stakes races held during the 26th edition of California Breeders Champions Night. The racing extravaganza for Cal-breds featured a total of $610,000 in purse money with the $175,000 Governor’s Cup Derby and the $75,000 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap among the other big money events contested on the night.

Ridden by Martin Arriaga, Mayor Humdinger was one of three juveniles trained by Casselman in the Governor’s Cup Futurity.

The most accomplished of the three was Steve Burns’ French Valley, who had run second in the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity on June 15 before posting a 1 ¼ length victory in the Governor’s Cup trial to help her become the 6-5 favorite in the final.

However, it was 6-1 choice Mayor Humdinger who carried the flag for the Casselman barn, as he shook off a bump at the start, accelerated quickly and would not be denied his third straight victory, which included a nail-bitter of a Governor’s Cup trial win on July 5. Casselman also won the 2023 running of this race with Mayor Humdinger’s half-brother, the Separate Interest gelding You See That, who won at 7-1.

Casselman owned and trained Mindys Favorite, who is the dam of Mayor Humdinger and You See That. In 10 career starts from 2015 to 2016, the daughter of Favorite Cartel won three races and finished in the money a total of seven times. She earned just over $20,000, but her two stakes winning sons have now combined to earn $242,980.

Mayor Humdinger earned $105,000 for his Governor’s Cup win to take his career bankroll to $113,285 from his four starts. He covered the 350 yards in :17.611.

"You know, Dr. Burns gets all the credit for the breeding and everything he does," Casselman says. "When he calls me and says, ‘What should we do?’, I say ‘Whatever you want to do.’ He’s been responsible for my breeding program, and we’ve been lucky. This horse just has a super mind. He’s really laid back. He doesn’t look like he likes to run. He’s been a lot of fun. In the mornings he’ll get up and do his job and then just laid down on his stall. Before his first race I remember they came to watch him jog and they said what’s wrong with him? He’s just slow and eases around, but when it’s time to run, he applies himself."

Casselman, 72, credited his assistant trainer, Heraclio Botello, for a job well done.

"He’s responsible for a lot of what we do," he said. "We think a lot alike and I’m getting to the age where I don’t know how much longer I’ll be doing this. He’s been there now and does a lot of my gallops and has a lot of input on what we’re doing."

With Armando Cervantes up for trainer Ramiro Castillo, El Dictator earned $42,500 for running second for owners Travis and Wendy Saxton.

Bred by Jaime Gomez, the gelding by Favorite Cartel is out of This Boogie Fires, who produced Governor’s Cup Futurity winner J Fire Up. This was El Dictator’s first loss in three starts.

Kolleen Ledgerwood’s Fancy Upp earned $30,000 for finishing third with Irving Lara up for trainer Cesar DeAlba. Slatedtoshine, Hurry Up, French Valley, Bear Down, Brother Ray, Next Norco, and Hidden Speed completed the field.

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For more information, please get in touch with larace@losalamitos.com. You can also follow us on Twitter or Instagram at @losalracing or visit us online at www.losalamitos.com.