Jo Lee Springs 12-1 Upset Wire-To-Wire In $35,000 Sound Dash Handicap At Los Alamitos

Ramiro Guerrero and Adolfo Perez’s Jo Lee outdueled a field that included several major Grade 1 stakes-placed mares on Sunday night at Los Alamitos, springing a 12-1 surprise to capture the $35,000 Sound Dash Handicap by a head over Edward B. Melzer Revocable Trust’s Fairlea Flyin.

Ridden to perfection by veteran jockey Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Elena Andrade, the 5-year-old Oklahoma-bred mare broke like a rocket from post position four, gained immediate control of the 350-yard sprint, and held off a wall of late closers, going wire-to-wire in :17.706. The $19,250 winner's share boosted her career earnings to $58,467 while improving her seasonal record to three wins from eight starts, with four victories in 19 lifetime appearances.

Bred by William E. Smith out of Cr Sugar N Spice, the sorrel daughter of Valiant Hero entered the Sound Dash following a third-place finish behind Curl Happy Wagon and runner-up Fairlea Flyin in the Florentine Stakes on August 9. This time, Jo Lee turned the tables on Fairlea Flyin, establishing the early lead from the gate and gamely holding off all challengers.

“I try to keep our mares fresh,” Andrade said. “When she runs on the lead, that’s when she seems to run her best. We’ve been trying gradually to bring her up each time to another level. She’s shown to us that she can hang with this level of mares. We’ve just waiting for these kinds of races, (instead of facing) the nice, really, tough mares.”

The victory marked the 108th career stakes win at Los Alamitos for rider Rodrigo Aceves, leaving him just four wins shy of tying Joe Badilla Jr. for seventh place on the track's all-time stakes winning jockey list.

Fairlea Flyin, ridden by Justine Klaiber for trainer Eddie Willis, put together a steady late rally after breaking fourth to earn $7,875 for her runner-up effort, moving her career earnings to $71,904. Bred by Bobby D. Cox, the 4-year-old Flying Cowboy 123 mare has now hit the board in 14 of her 20 career starts.

Fairlea Flyin finished just a nose ahead of Ed Allred’s homebred Quick She Is, who under Gabriel Lara mounted a furious late drive in a blanket finish for third. Quick She Is was one of four distaffers in the field coming off an appearance in the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap.

Lex Fabrizio’s post-time favorite One Sweet Duck (1.30-1) completed the superfecta. Ridden by Armando Viramontes, the Utah-bred daughter of One Sweet Jess pressed Jo Lee early from second before being outdueled late to finish fourth, just a head behind Quick She Is.

Went To London finished fifth, followed by Silver Bac, Budder Off Friends, and Racy Favorite. AJ Flawless was declared a non-starter after a false break before the official start of the race.

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