SET FOR IT SHRUGS OFF EARLY TROUBLE TO SCORE WIN IN TOLLTAC HANDICAP

         Jesus Avila and Jesus Cuevas’ Set For It returned to the form that saw him post an impressive Governor’s Cup Futurity trial victory as he took the lead shortly after the start and never looked back on the way to a half-length win in the $20,000 Tolltac Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

        With Ruben Lozano in the irons for trainer Valentin Zamudio, Set For It broke in good fashion before getting bumped by La Blue Amore about 40 yards out of the gate. Set For It reset and then took off to post his third win five starts this year. Purchased for $28,500 at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, Set For It now looks primed for a good autumn campaign at the Orange County track. The gelding by Seperate Interest out of the stakes winner Up For It, Set For It is eligible to the Golden State Million Futurity on October 10 and the Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity trials in late November.

       Three races back, Set For It crushed in his trial to the Governor’s Cup Futurity. He won the race by 1 ¾ lengths but then he got bumped hard in the final and never had a chance to challenge the fast-flying winner She Goes Up. Six weeks later and Set For It is a Los Alamitos stakes winner in the Tolltac Handicap. He earned $11,000 for the win to take his career earnings to $33,405.

        Parsons Ranch’s Seperate Cruises, who also competed in the Governor’s Cup Futurity, was second in this race, while Porfirio Gonzalez’s Cumbia finished third. Seperate Cruises earned $4,500 for second, while Cumbia picked up a check for $2,500 for running third. The top three were followed by Cactus Jack and La Blue Amore, who dead-heated for fourth, Up The Ladder and Val Frida.          

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