WICKED COWGIRL SMART SHINES WITH VICTORY IN FRED SCANE AT LOS ALAMITOS
Owned and bred by J Lazy Six Ranch, Wicked Cowgirl Smart was impressive once again, this time outdueling Grade 2 futurity finalist Choosen One in the $25,000 Fred Scane Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Ridden by Diego Herrera for trainer Heath Taylor, Wicked Cowgirl Smart was fourth out of the gate, drifted in during the early stages of the race before flying late to catch the Choosen One while posting a neck victory in the 350-yard stakes. The filly by Flying Cowboy 123 covered the distance in :17.957 while improving her record to two wins from three starts. A maiden winner in her racing debut, Wicked Cowgirl Smart came into the Fred Scane after running second in her trial to the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity. She was good in that race as well, running second to eventual fastest qualifier Political Rivalry, who is the 5-2 favorite in the Ed Burke Million here on Sunday night.
“I really liked the filly because of the quality of her last race,” Taylor said of Wicked Cowgirl Smart. “She made up some ground and (Political Rivalry) ended up having fastest time in the Ed Burke. They were well clear of the third horse, so I thought it was a really good race. The filly had had a long time off. She did have a good work here not long ago. She was coming off a long, long layoff. She’s always been the kind of horse that looked like she wanted to go the extra distance. This set her up good. She’s in some of the AQHA Challenge races, the Breeders Futurity, and some of the later futurities.”
Bred in Arizona, Wicked Cowgirl Smart earned $13,750 for the win to take her career earnings to $19,845. Taylor also saddled Keith Nellesen’s Choosen One, the sixth-place finisher in the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity. Choose One earned $5,625 for his runner-up finish in the Fred Scane. Oscar Parra’s Attacked, who won a Kindergarten trial in late April earned $3,125 for running third in this race. Also owned by Nellesen and trained by Taylor, Kevins Knockout finished fourth. She also qualified to the Kindergarten final.
“All three horses actually ran really, really good,” Taylor said. “Kevins Knockout looked like got away good and was close to the lead. Choosen One is very honest. We’re lucky that they got there. She was able to catch Choose One at the last jump. She’s now got black type. It looks like the Flying Cowboy 123 (juveniles) have been doing tremendously. They had a phenomenal day out of state today. It’s good for him. I really appreciate the opportunity of Dr. Justin McCormick to send the horse out here. It’s my first-year training for him and he’s sent some nice horses. I’m blessed and appreciate the opportunity. “
Gray Valiant, Around Town, and Cava John Cash completed the field.
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