Valentin Zamudio

In 2007 Keep The Sign was as good a claim as any at Los Alamitos, and a great deal of his success is due to the hard work, foresight, and confidence that his regular handler Valentin Zamudio places in the horse.

Zamudio is actually the one who originally had the idea to claim the burgeoning star for owner Robert Parra.  "I really liked the way he finished in his races," Zamudio said.  "He wasn't really winning all of his races before we had him, but he always finished strongly.  The farther this one goes the better."  And far Keep The Sign has gone.  In only four starts, Keep The Sign went from a $16,000 claimer to a two-time stakes winner.  Since being claimed, Keep The Sign has won three of his last seven starts and qualified to a Grade 1 race, Saturday's rich Los Alamitos Winter Championship at 400 yards. 

Keep The Sign actually ran second to fastest qualifier A Stoli Mate in the trials to the Winter Championship last out, but his time of 19.620 was good enough for the third-fastest qualifying time.  When asked about the impending rematch with Los Alamitos 400 yard track-record holder A Stoli Mate, Valentin said "well the record is one thing, but even without that he's still a great horse.  Actually we've beaten A Stoli Mate before though.  We beat him in the Sgt. Pepper Feature Handicap, but still it's going to be a challenge."

Perhaps it was the added distance that helped Keep The Sign blossom into such a promising four-year old stakes-caliber horse.  Fourteen of Keep The Sign's first fifteen starts came at 350 yards or less, primarily against claiming company.  However, all three of his most recent starts were run at 400 yards.  Since then Keep The Sign won his biggest race to date, the Sooner Trailer Stakes, and qualified to the Winter Championship.

"The charts said we broke third in the trials and we finished second," Zamudio said.  "I think he was closing a little bit on A Stoli Mate.  He definitely wasn't slowing down.  This horse just gives his all every time out.  Even in the First Down Dash Handicap when he had lots of trouble and had to go around horses, he still ran a good race.  He always tries hard"