CHICKS FIRST FLASH WINS THE FRED SCANE WITH STRONG FINISH IN 350-YARD RACE
Five Livestock Company LLC and Steve Wright’s Chicks First Flash, the runner-up in the Grade 2 Robert Adair Kindergarten Futurity, scored his first stakes victory after finishing powerfully to win the $25,000 Fred Scane Memorial Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos.
Bred by Five Livestock Company, Chicks First Flash had always shown a strong late kick. He was fifth at the start of the Kindergarten before flying late to earn second place. In the Fred Scane, the son of First Moonflash broke in, but there was not much separating him from Jeryl Hartley’s Hes Chickless. Chicks First Flash lugged out at the midway point, but he taken the lead at that point and from there he increased his advantage with each stride. By the time he crossed the finish line, Chicks First Flash was a 1 ¼ lengths ahead of Hes Chickless while covering the 350 yards in :17.667.
Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Chicks First Flash earned $13,750 for the win to take his career earnings to $62,625. He’s won two of his four starts.
“We were excited to run him 350,” Arrossa said. “He had a little trouble in the Kindergarten away from the gate, but he closed really fast and came out of that race really well. We didn’t have him paid into a whole lot down here, so we thought this would be a nice race. It’s an honor to win this race named after Fred. He was a great guy and great for our industry. It’s a real privilege to win this race.”
Chicks First Flash will be pointed to the John Deere California Juvenile Challenge and will also keep his eye on the trials to the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity in mid-September.
For Five Livestock Company and Wright, they’ve now had back-to-back years with juvenile stakes winners. They partner last year to win the PCQHRA Breeders Futurity with Favorite Honey and now have another talented 2-year-old in Chicks First Flash.
“I’m really happy for Dr. Melinda Roche,” Arrossa added. “She raised this colt. I ran his mother (First Prize Chicks). She won the Kip Didericksen Stakes here. It’s fun to watch the babies come back and run. (Melinda) works hard with her breeding program and her and Steve have a great partnership with the horses. They’ve been big supporters of my team and I can’t thank them enough.”
Trained by John Cooper and ridden by Juan Pablo Leon, Hes Chickless earned $5,625 for running second. He had won his other two career starts. Imm Born To Fly also entered this race having won his first two starts. He earned $3,125 for running third in this race for M and M Racing Stables and trainer Jose Flores. One Sweet Bar, Mr Secret Cartel and Vgk Fire Fly completed the field.
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