11th Running
$100,000 KING GLORIOUS STAKES
2-Year-Olds, California bred or sired
One Mile
Jockey Quotes
FLAVIEN PRAT (Winner, Giver Not a Taker): “I wasn’t really bothered right when it (an incident where leader Please Focus ducked out early on the backside and unseated jockey Mario Gutierrez), but on the last turn I wanted to go on and ask him to run, but the jockey (Tiago Pereira) on the horse (Geezer) in front of me was worried about the loose horse and he didn’t know where he was going to go, so (Crypto Ride) got the jump on us, but my horse got brave and regrouped and made a good run down the lane.’’
42nd Running
$200,000 LOS ALAMITOS FUTURITY (GII)
2-Year-Olds
1 1/16 miles
RAMON VAZQUEZ (Winner, Practical Move): “This is the first time I’ve ever been on this horse and he really impressed me. He relaxed perfectly and then I had to make a decision turning for home whether to go inside or outside. When the leader (Carmel Road) drifted out a bit there was an opening. He came right through and gave me a very nice finish.’’
Trainer Quotes
TIM YAKTEEN (Winner, Practical Move): “He’s been steadily improving race after race. I’m definitely hoping that he’s going to continue to get better as a 3-year-old and that’s the impression he has been giving me. I’m surprised because we were going up against the king (Hall of Fame trainer Bob Baffert, who had won this race seven of the first eight times it was run at Los Alamitos), but I’m not surprised because my horse was doing really well. That it all worked out is just fantastic. We had a great trip and I’m just thrilled to death with the horse and his effort today. This one’s really special because Bob is a good friend and we have a great relationship. I hate to take him down, but it ended up that I got the better of him today and he usually gets the better of me. We’re just going to give the horse a breather now right now and regroup and then go from there.’’
$100,000 SOVIET PROBLEM STAKES
2-Year-Old Fillies, California bred or sired
RAMON VAZQUEZ (Winner, Cast Member): “We had a perfect trip. We just followed the leaders on the outside. I just wanted to wait with her until the final quarter to make a move. She handled the track well. When I asked her she responded very well. I think she’s definitely better around two turns.’’
TIM YAKTEEN (Winner, Cast Member): “We’re very happy with her race. She ran dynamite. The big question was how was she going to handle the track and she seemed like she absolutely enjoyed it. The California bred program is a great one and we’re looking to see what she does on the turf now. The plan is to run in the (200,000 Leigh Ann Howard California Cup) Oaks (at one mile on the grass Jan. 7 at Santa Anita).’’
$300,500 STARLET (G I)
2-Year Old Fillies
One Mile & One Sixteenth
FLAVIEN PRAT (Winner, Faiza): “She traveled well the entire way. She switched leads at the head of the stretch and there was a little bumping, but I really didn’t feel anything. Both her and (runner-up Pride of the Nile) ran very hard to the wire.’’
BOB BAFFERT (Winner, Faiza and Fourth, Doinithehardway): ‘’This place is special to me and especially on the day of the Champion of Champions. I have such great memories and Los Alamitos just means a lot to me. To win this race this many times (six in a row at Los Alamitos and a record nine overall – including three at Hollywood Park) is a tribute to the clientele I have and a great staff that works with me. It’s a team effort. (Faiza) has always shown she’s a specia filly and she had to be special today to win just off one maiden race. She’s still green, but I think she has a big future in front of her. I think she’s going to get better with age, but we’ve loved her from the start and she’s by one of the hottest sires (Girvin) going right now.’’
NOTES: Baffert’s previous five Starlet wins at Los Alamitos were Dream Tree (2017), Chasing Yesterday (2018), Bast (2019), Varda (2020) and Eda last year. His victories at Hollywood Park came with Excellent Meeting (1998), Habibti (2001) and Streaming (2013). Hall of Famer D. Wayne Lukas won the Starlet seven times at Hollywood Park and took the inaugural running at Los Alamitos with Take Charge Brandi in 2014.