Trainer Scott Willoughby became the 17th trainer to reach the 600th Quarter Horse win plateau at Los Alamitos after saddling the 3-year-old gelding One Last Chance to victory in the 5th race on Saturday night.
“It’s been a fantastic run out here in California and hopefully it keeps going longer,” said Willoughby before revealing some of his favorite moments Los Alamitos.
“Winning the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity for Dr. Ed Allred (with He Looks Hot in 2014) was fantastic. From my first one to this one, it’s been great. The horse that brought me here, Streakin Victory, is special. I’ve had some great horses for some really good owners. Of course, Dr. Allred has been a great owner for me. I’m very happy to be here and it’s great to be in the company out here and win these kind of races. ‘Streak’, he’s 35-years-old and he’s still going at Dr. Allred’s Rolling A Ranch.”
Willoughby is currently the meet’s leading Quarter Horse trainer with 16 victories.
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Jesus Avila’s Handsome TD won the third 2-year-old race of the meet at Los Alamitos and he did by posting the weekend’s biggest upset. Ridden by Jonathan Roman for trainer Jorge Farias, Handsome TD held off El Angel Corona by a nose to win the 300-yard race at 26-1 odds. Racing from post one, the son of Tempting Dash covered the distance in :15.678. His dam is Brenda Beautiful, the winner of the Grade 1 Southwest Juvenile Championship and the Grade 2 Hobbs America Futurity in 2008.
EG High Desert Farms’ El Angel Corona lugged in badly the entire race, but is one to watch if he’s able to improve off of this effort. Corona Required, a $140,000 repurchase at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, broke in, was bumped at the start and lost his racing path on the way to finishing fourth.
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