FASTEST QUALIFIER FRIVOLOUS WINS $285,000 GOVERNOR’S CUP FUTURITY
Clanfield Act Stables’ Frivolous recovered from a stumble at the start to take the lead after the midway point of the Restricted Grade 1, $285,000 Governor’s Cup Futurity on the way scoring a ½ length victory in the 350-yard race on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
The Governor’s Cup Futurity was the feature event on the opening night of California Breeders Champions Weekend at the Southern California track. Other winners on the night were Da Special One in the Jens List Memorial Stakes, Space Flight in the Freshman Stakes, and Secret Success in the Freshman Stakes for Fillies. Four more stakes races, including the Governor’s Cup Derby and the Restricted Grade 1 Spencer Childers California Breeders Championship Handicap will be contested on night two of California Breeders Champions Weekend here on Sunday evening.
Purchased for $80,000 from breeder Ed Allred at the Los Alamitos Equine Sale, the Favorite Cartel filly out of stakes winning mare Nymph remained calm, cool, and collected for most of the time in the starting gates while she waited for the start. While others became agitated, apprehensive, and fractious, Frivolous had her mind on running.
With Henry Reynoso Lopez in the irons, Frivolous lost her balance and stumble once the race got underway, and even though she was fifth at the start, she was among the leaders at about 100 yards into the race. The Felix Gonzalez-trainee was only a head behind earlier leader Required First after the first 220 yards and from there Frivolous was all business, full of purpose and concentration, as she moved ahead of Required First and never looked back in route to scoring her third win in six career starts. Frivolous, who came into this race as the fastest qualifier in the Governor’s Cup trials, earned $117,600 for her victory – that alone more than covering her sale price. A late running sixth in the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity two outings ago, Frivolous has now earned $173,150 in her career.
For Sergio Hurtado of Clanfield Act Stables, the Governor’s Cup represented the biggest win of his career as owner. The filly covered the 350 yards in :17.807.
“I’m thrilled, happy, and full of emotions,” Hurtado said. “This filly has done her work nicely since the beginning and has shown that she has power. Her trainer, Felix Gonzalez, has done a great job. Things have gone well and tonight it was our turn. We bought her at the sale here at Los Alamitos last year, but we never second guessed the purchase because we knew that she was worth it.”
Hurtado is a second-generation horseman with his father teaching him appreciation and love for horses.
“My dad, Humecindo Hurtado Lopez, is back home in Zacatecas in Mexico,” Hurtado. “My dad taught us the right way to do things and to be respectful. He taught us the love for horses and other animals and the wonderful and positive examples that they can be in our lives. From him we learned that with patience and smarts that we accomplish the best.”
Hurtado’s breeding operation is based in Acton, California, a community near the Antelope Valley in Los Angeles County. His family also operates a ranch in Zacatecas, Mexico.
“We have a couple of stallions, including one named Hunting Eagle,” Hurtado added. “We have about 20 mares, mostly broodmares. We are looking forward to future babies from the combination of (multiple allowance winner and $98,203 earner) Ventura Jess JQM with Favorite Cartel, Corona Cartel, and One Dashing Eagle.”
Hurtado is in the constructions industry in the United States and his family is involved in agricultural business in Mexico.
George and Ruben Villalobos’ homebred colt Required First posted another strong effort, as he finished second from post number one in the Governor’s Cup. Ridden by Jairo Rangel for trainer Jose Flores, the colt was second at the start, took the lead shortly after and gave Frivolous all she could handle in the Governor’s Cup final. The First Down Dash gelding out of the highly productive mare No Tools Required, Required First earned $47,600 for running second. Required First has finished in the top three in all five of his career starts.
Oscar Parra’s Attacker earned $33,600 for running third with Ruben Lozano up for trainer Valentin Zamudio. Steve Burns’ Turbeau earned $18,200 for running fourth, as did Burns, Bujanda and Flore’s Interesting Eagle, who dead-heated for fourth. Interestingly, Frivolous, Required First, Attacker and Turbeau all came out of the same trial race. The complete order of finish is as follows; Frivolous, Required First, Attacker, Turbeau, Interesting Eagle, Mornings With Maria, BF Lizzierageous, and Up For Everything. Future Version was scratched after becoming fractious in the starting gate.
DA SPECIAL ONE KEEPS ON WINNING, SCORES IN JENS LIST
Alfredo Alonzo’s Da Special One extended his winning streak to three following a gate to wire victory in the $25,00 Jens List Memorial Stakes for 3-year-olds on Saturday at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Jaime Gomez, Da Special One won the 400-yard race in :19.796.
Simply put, the Hector Padilla-bred runner has been on a roll at Los Alamitos. After going winless in his freshman campaign, Da Special One broke his maiden in his 2022 debut. His next three-outings were hard-fought decisions with Da Special One finishing third, third and second in that order. Since then, it’s been all wins for the improving gelding. The rising star came into this race after a pair of allowance wins, but the gelding by Two Corona Special took it to the next level after keeping two-time Grade 1 finalist Eye On Sky at bay the entire way to win the Jens List.
“It’s great to be at Los Alamitos on this beautiful night,” Alonzo said. “I’m here with my dad, Alfredo Alonzo, Sr. and my brother, Ivan Alonzo. This horse has given us his all. We gave him a chance when it looked like he was (tailing off) and he’s responded. We gave him the benefit of the doubt and he’s come through for us. We are very thankful. I’m thankful for my dad for giving me his supporting when I wanted to be involved in this sport. I wouldn’t be here without him.”
The order of finish is as follows: Da Special One, Eye On The Sky, Look Up, Benevolent, Up The Ladder, and The Kids A Cowboy.
SPACE FLIGHT AND SECRET SUCCESS WINS JUVENILE EVENTS
Brenda Figueroa’s Secret Success (photo) and Ed Allred’s Space Flight won their respective Freshman Stakes divisions on Saturday night. Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Roman Figueroa, Secret Success won the $25,000 Freshman Stakes for Fillies by ¾ length over two-time graded futurity finalist Navaja. Bred by Hector Jaramillo, the filly by Henoshersecret led from the start and controlled the entire race in route to her third win in a row.
“She’s not a secret anymore,” Figueroa said.
Secret Success covered the 350-yards in :17.908. She earned $13,750 to nearly double her lifetime earnings. She’s made $27,760 in her six-race career. Jesus Nava’s Navaja came into this race after competing in both the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity. Reminder, Fire Wall, Corona De Crystal, La Tarahumara Fire, and Sentauro Image complete the field.
In the division for colts and geldings, Space Flight turned on his rockets right from start, as he flew out of the gate on the way to a 1 ¼ length win in a 350-yard time of :17.885. This was his second win in three starts. He also won his maiden effort and was a strong finishing second after a rough start in his only other outing.
“We’ve liked him a lot from the start,” trainer Scott Willoughby said. “He really put it all together here.”
Jonathan Roman piloted the Allred-bred gelding by Fly Thru The Fire. Space Flight earned $13,750 for the win. Mr Secret Cartel, an allowance winner in his most recent start, finished second for owner Margarito Farias. Why Not Up, Smokin Hot Fire, Who Kares, Lisbon Crystal, John Grey, and Alfonso completed the field.
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