MARCELO SIZZLES TO MEET’S FASTEST 220 TIME; STELLA GIRL 47 WINS DEBUT
On Saturday night, Jeryl Hartley’s Hes Chickless posted the fastest time by a 2-year-old at 220 yards since Los Alamitos returned to carding races at that distance in the spring of 2020.
Hes Chickless didn’t hold the distinction for very long, as less than 24 hours later the Fast Prize Cartel colt Marcelo went 2/100th faster on the way to covering in :11.993. Ridden by Henry Reynoso Lopez for owner/breeder EG High Desert Farms, Marcelo was phenomenal in his racing debut, as he flew away from post number four and led by daylight the entire way. Sent off at 9-1 odds, Marcelo was ahead of his closest pursuer by a length early on. He continued to increase his advantage with each stride, eventually crossing the wire 1 ¾ lengths ahead of even money favorite Chicks First Flash.
Marcelo’s big debut was similar to his most recent gate drill back on March 12 when he outworked his company by multiple lengths. Jesus Nunez trains the California-bred, who is out the Finding Nemo mare SS Calendar Girl. Bred in Oklahoma, SS Calendar Girl won seven of 18 starts in her career to the tune of $88,915 in earnings. A graded stakes winner, SS Calendar Girl won the 2012 FI Lady Bug Stakes at Remington Park, the 2013 Grade 3 Speedhorse Gold and Silver Derby at Fair Meadows, and the 2014 Native Empress Handicap at Los Alamitos. She’s the dam of the Hawkinson gelding Hawks Valentine, a four-time winner who finished in the money in 15 of 26 career starts for earnings of nearly $45,000.
Two races later on Sunday night, the Utah bred filly Stella Girl 47 won her racing debut while taking on five over 2-year-old fillies in the sixth race on the night. Bred by Steven McIntyre, the Stel Corona filly Stella Girl 47 is a full sister to graded stakes winner Cole Man 47, who earned over $262,000. He won the Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity and John Deere Los Alamitos Juvenile Challenge in 2018. Trained by Paul Jones for Jones, McIntyre and Thompson Racing, Stella Girl 47 covered the 220 yards in :12.196. Jones also trained her older brother, Cole Man 47.
-30-