UNRELENTLESS WITH NICE SCORE IN A RANSOM HANDICAP AT LOS ALAMITOS

         Two starts equaled two stakes wins for Reliance Ranches’ Unrelentless at Los Alamitos in 2024. The multiple Grade 1 stakes runner won the Town Policy Handicap last month in his first local start of the year before coming back to hold off Keith Nellesen’s Political Rivalry in the $25,000 A Ransom Handicap for 3-year-olds here on Saturday night.

        The Eddie Willis-trained Unrelentless trailed at the start of the 350-yard A Ransom but then found a higher gear as he neared the gap of the Los Alamitos straightaway. All systems were a go from there for Unrelentless as the colt by Hes Relentless hooked up with Political Rivalry in the final yards before hitting the wire a neck ahead of the multiple stakes winner.

       “He likes the pressure,” said jockey Justine Klaiber, who rode Unrelentless to victory from post number two. “He broke a little slow and had to work to get to the front (tonight), but once he had it, he just kept on going. He’s a really good horse with a lot of class and he’ll just keep getting better.”

         Klaiber has enjoyed a strong season at Los Alamitos in 2024. The rider is seventh in the local Quarter Horse standings with 24 from 97 starters, not to mention both stakes wins aboard Unrelentless this year.

         “It’s been a great season,” she said. “Riding for Eddie has given me a lot of opportunities and we work hard at it in the mornings and we just let it all pan out after that.”

          Bred by Flag Ranch, Unrelentless earned $13,750 for this win to take his lifetime bankroll to $347,227. He’s won five of 15 career starts while also racing in four graded stakes finals. He was second to AQHA champion Trane Station V in last year’s Grade 1 Golden State Million Futurity and was sixth also to Trane Station V in the Grade 1 Los Alamitos Two Million Futurity.

         Ridden by Rodrigo Aceves for trainer Heath Taylor, Political Rivalry earned $5,625 for his runner-up effort to take his career bankroll over the half-million-dollar mark. Bred by McColee Land & Livestock, Political Rivalry has $503,937 in earnings for his career. He won the Grade 1 Ed Burke Million Futurity and Grade 2 PCQHRA Breeders Futurity last year.

        Ed Allred’s Favorite Cartel filly In The Mode was third and was followed by Kiss My Wine, Trending Right, M E Ettago Relent, Heza Good Reason and Rs Shere Khan.

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