Fired Cruises To Victory In $14,853 Aged Invitational Stakes At Century Downs

Fired took command early and cruised to a 1 1/4-length victory in the $14,853 Aged Invitational Stakes at Century Downs on Saturday afternoon. The five-year-old gelding covered 400 yards in :19.519 over a fast track, securing his eighth career victory.

Ridden by Alexander Marti, Fired broke second before quickly taking command and extending his advantage to 1 1/2 lengths during the race. He maintained a comfortable lead through the finish, earning a 111 speed index.

Owned by Jerry Stojan and trained by William Leech, Fired was bred in California by Steve D. Burns, DVM. The $18,000 Los Alamitos Equine Sale graduate is sired by Fly Thru The Fire and out of the winning Separatist mare Ruths Chris. He is a full brother to Black Fryday ($369,940), winner of the Southern California Derby (G2), and Stripsteak ($118,239), a two-time winner of the Evergreen Park Championship Challenge.

Saturday's victory improved Fired's career record to eight wins, ten seconds, and one third from 24 starts. The $7,872 winner's share increased his lifetime earnings to $112,976. A previous winner of the Old Timers Classic Stakes, Fired entered Saturday's contest following a fifth-place finish in the Century Downs Cup Classic Maturity.

First Famous Prize finished second under jockey O. Hernandez, holding off Jess The Train by a head. The four-year-old filly broke sharply from post two and was first away from the gate before Fired took command. She maintained second throughout the race, stopping the clock in :19.744.

Owned by Commotion Creek Contracting and WT Ranches Ltd. and trained by Buckey Stockwell, First Famous Prize was bred by Weetona Stanley. She sold for $32,000 at the Ruidoso Select Yearling Sale and later for $20,000 at the Heritage Place Winter Mixed Sale. The daughter of world champion sire One Famous Eagle is out of the winning Desirio mare Fancy First Prize.

First Famous Prize has compiled five wins, five seconds, and two thirds from 17 career starts, earning $119,661. Her stakes victories include the Canada Cup Futurity (G3), Canada Cup Derby, and Century Mile Derby Challenge. She entered Saturday's race following a fourth-place finish in the Century Downs Cup Classic Maturity.

Jess The Train completed the trifecta under Daniel Garcia, finishing a head behind First Famous Prize. The three-year-old filly broke outward and drifted out leaving the chute before settling into third, where she remained through the finish. She covered the distance in :19.777.

Also owned by Commotion Creek Contracting and WT Ranches Ltd. and trained by Buckey Stockwell, Jess The Train was bred by Bob McClure. The daughter of Freighttrain B is out of the Feature Mr Jess mare Jess Ballin The Jack. She has recorded three wins, three seconds, and three thirds from 12 starts, earning $34,127. Earlier this season, she captured the All Canadian Derby.

O Seeyalater, the post-time favorite, finished fourth after lacking a late kick, while O La Dee Da completed the order of finish in the five-horse field.

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