Defending Champ Wins Derby To Give Willoughby His 100th Stakes Win At Los Alamitos

LOS ALAMITOS, CA–JULY 26, 2025–Ed Allred’s Defending Champ broke near the early leader Walking Tool and that was the winning move, as the always powerful closer inhaled his rivals in the final 150 yards to win the $175,000 Governor’s Cup Derby by a ¾ lengths to give trainer Scott Willoughby his 100th Quarter Horse stakes win at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Gabriel Lara, Defending Champ took the lead at about the midway point of the race and for anyone that has been watching this horse this year, it was clear that no one was going to catch him or outfinish him.

In the end, the Steve Burns-bred gelding by Favorite Cartel covered the 400 yards in :19.692 to earn $71,400 for the win. Second in the Grade 2 El Primero Del Ano Derby on March 23, Defending Champ scored his fourth win in 11 starts while taking his career earnings to $175,253.

Willoughby, he became only the sixth trainer to reach the century plateau in stakes wins here. He joins Blane Schvaneveldt (387), Paul Jones (351), John Cooper (122), Jaime Gomez (107) and Jose Flores (101) in this club.

"This means a lot," Willoughby said. "I’ve run horses here for over 25 years now and with Doc (Allred) over 20 years. The rider, Gabriel Lara, he’s doing a fantastic job and winning 100 stakes here means a lot to me. (Defending Champ) ran a great race tonight. His main thing is getting away from the gate because he’s so big. He left there tonight better than I’ve ever seen him. He did it at the right time and it worked out perfectly. He’s just getting better every trip."

EG High Desert Farms’ Favorite Jesshawk also picked up speed at the midway point to take second place and held off the others to earn $28,900 for his runner-up effort.

The son of A Mere Felix was hoping to become only the ninth horse to sweep the Governor’s Cup Futurity and Derby, but a second place to the impressive Defending Champ is a result to be proud of. Ricardo Ramirez piloted him for trainer Jesus Nunez.

Its On You, also owned by EG High Desert and trained by Nunez, earned $20,400 for finishing third. Martin Arriaga was aboard the filly also by A Mere Felix.

Walking Tool, Party Time Tom, Call Her Perfect, Up To Party, Personal Attack, Snow Bound and Back At It completed the field.

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