VETERAN CHICKS FAYVORITE EARNS RICHEST WIN IN SCHVANEVELDT HANDICAP
At the venerable age of 8, Martha Wells’ Chicks Fayvorite has become a multiple stakes winner. His first ever stakes win came on February 5 when he won the Allred Brothers Stakes at Turf Paradise. His second and richest stakes win came on Saturday night after the gelding by Favorite Cartel won the $25,000 Blane Schvaneveldt Handicap at Los Alamitos.
Martha Wells could not have been prouder of her homebred runner, as the veteran has faced the starter 52 times resulting in nine wins, 25 top three finishes and earning $140,246 after picking up a check for $13,750 for winning the Schvaneveldt. The fact that it came in the race named after the legendary horseman made it even sweeter for “Mimi” Wells.
“It is so special,” she said. “I’ve wanted to win the Blane because Blane was here, gosh, when I first started out in 1972. He was the greatest. I know his whole family, watched them all grow up and they’re fabulous. This horse, Chicks Fayvorite, just turned eight. He’s getting up there (in age) and I’m getting up there too. It’s fabulous to win the Blane Schvaneveldt.”
In the winner’s circle, Shirley Schvaneveldt, Blane’s wife, gave Mimi a big embrace while the two had sweet, loving words for each other in the winner’s circle.
“It can’t be any better than that,” Wells added. “I just love it that Shirley was here and I love her. I love her children and her grandchildren. This was definitely a family moment with such a nice crowd at Los Alamitos.”
Wells added that Chicks Fayvorite will have a home at her ranch once he retires.
“He’ll be my riding horse,” she said. “He’s the perfect size.”
Out of the great broodmare Chicks Tell, Chicks Fayvorite won this race by a half-length and in a winning time of :20.158.
Winning trainer Matt Fales tied Bret Vickery for most wins in the Blane Schvaneveldt. Fales had previously won this race twice with Jess A Cowboy in 2017 and 2019. For Jonathan Roman, this was his first win in the Schvaneveldt. Fales also saddled the runner-up, Delila Rose, who earned $5,625 for owner Justin Lewis. Ruben Lozano piloted the Carters Cartel filly. Staubach ran third and was followed by Bar Fighten and Apollitical J One.
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