LOVELY EVENING SURPRISES RIVALS TO WIN AUTUMN HANDICAP AT LOS ALAMITOS

      Ed Allred’s Lovely Evening became the latest foal out of the broodmare Moonlight Corona to win a stakes race after posting a neck victory in the $30,000 Autumn Handicap for 2-year-olds on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

       The filly by Seperate Interest now joins her half-brothers Circle City and Nomadic as stakes winners out of the outstanding mare Moonlight Corona. Fourth at the start at 8-1 odds, Lovely Evening got rolling at the midway point of the 350-yard dash to catch J. Francisco Diaz’s Mookkie in the final 50 yards. Ridden by Jose Nicasio for trainer Scott Willoughby, Lovely Evening covered the distance :17.920 while recording her third victory in six career starts. Lovely Evening’s stablemate, Cactus Jack, completed the top three in this race. 

        “This filly just keeps improving,” Willoughby said. “She’s really coming around. Unfortunately, Cactus Jack hoped in the air a little bit away from the gate, second time in a row. He come on running but it was a too little, too late. This filly ran a great race on the other end.”   

       Lovely Evening earned $16,500 for the win to more than double her bankroll to $32,372. Her dam, Moonlight Corona, won two stakes races at Los Alamitos while also racing in the Grade 2 La Primera Del Año Derby and Las Damas Handicap.  

        Ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala for Lindolfo Diaz, Mookkie earned $6,750 for his second-place finish to lift his winning to $22,163. The gelding by Hez Our Secret has hit the board in all seven of his career starts. Cactus Jack, a gelding by Kiddy Up, earned $3,750 for his third place finish with Henry Reynoso Lopez up. Up The Ladder, Rock Candy Blue, After School and Run By Your Cartel completed the field.

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