ABIGAIL KAWANANAKOA WINNER LETTY CARTEL SCORES IN MATRON
EG High Desert Farms' Letty Cartel continues her rise to the top echelon of the aged mare division at Los Alamitos after posting her second stakes victory in a row thanks to outstanding victory in the Restricted Grade 3, $40,000 Matron Stakes on Saturday at Los Alamitos. Ridden by Irving Lara for new trainer Jesus Nunez, Letty Cartel won the Matron by a half-length over 2021 Governor's Cup Futurity winner She Goes Up. Previously, Letty Cartel had won the $100,000 Abigail Kawananakoa Stakes at 18-1 odds over multiple stakes winner Cir Lady Moon and She Goes Up. The 4-year-old mare by Fast Prize Cartel also ran third in the $50,000 Miss Princess and was second in early March.
A stakes winner in August of 2022, Letty Cartel earned $22,000 for her Matron score to improve her earnings to $128,929. Racing from post four at 2-1 odds, Letty Cartel covered the 400 yards in :19.846.
"She keeps improving little by little," said Enrique Gonzalez of EG High Desert Farms. "Her juvenile year, the filly just didn't want to run. She's improved and I can't ask for more from her. She's doing well. I love the distaff division at Los Alamitos. I love to see mares in these types of races. For me, it's exciting because you feel the great level of competition that's here and it's very rewarding to win a race against such high quality of rivals. We'll see how she continues to perform and eventually she'll make a fine broodmare."
Owned by Ed Allred, She Goes Up earned $9,000 for her second place finish. She's now made $213,147. Jesus Rios Ayala piloted the 4-year-old daughter of Seperate Interest for trainer Scott Willoughby. EG High Desert Farms' La Beverly Hills earned $5,000 for running third. All Prettied Up, Up To Good, and Intu Wishin completed the field.
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