FAMOUS SHINING STAR REMAINS UNDEFEATED IN 2023 AFTER Q RACING VIDEO DISTAFF WIN
Johnny Trotter’s Famous Shining Star added another stakes victory to her undefeated record in 2023 after outdueling graded stakes winner Lil Longmire in the $26,928 Q Racing Video California Distaff Challenge for fillies and mares, 3-year-olds and up on Sunday night at Los Alamitos.
A 5-year-old mare sired by champion One Famous Eagle, Famous Shining Star has now each of her four starts this year with three of those victories being in stakes races. Bred by Julianna Hawn Holt and trained by Jose Flores, Famous Shining Star added the Q Racing Video California Distaff to her wins in the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap on January 1 and Check Her Twice Stakes on June 11. With her victory in this 400-yard race, Famous Shining Star earned a berth to the Grade 1 Q Racing Video Distaff Challenge to be held at Lone Star Park on October 21.
“She’s doing everything right,” Flores said. “She’s staying healthy and sound. That’s the important thing. Hopefully, she continues on this path, and she continues strong throughout the year.”
Ridden by Cruz Mendez from post four, Famous Shining Star made no mistakes in winning her fourth race of the year. She trailed the newcomer Lil Longmire by a neck early on, but eventually she took the lead and control of this race during the final 100 yards. She crossed the wire in :19.873 to take her career record to nine wins from 21 starts. She earned $15,080 for the win to take her lifetime bankroll to $186,873. Famous Shining Star came into this race after an impressive victory at 300 yards on July 15. The Texas-bred covered the distance in that race in :15.27, which is the fastest clocking in a 300-yard race this season.
“She’s one of the top mares right now,” Flores added. “We had a really nice mare that I used to (train) in Toxic Relationship in this race to go along with (Lil Longmire) and Imm Born To Fly, who are both nice mares. Right now, Famous Shining Star is at her peak. I’m hoping she can keep it going through the end of the year.”
Famous Shining Star’s next start will be in the Grade 1 Mildred Vessels Memorial Handicap on September 17 according to her trainer.
Ben Peterson’s Lil Longmire, a seven-time winner in her career, ran a strong second in her Los Alamitos debut. The Utah-bred mare by A Revenant won the Firecracker Derby at Delta Downs and was second ran in the Heritage Place Oaks at Remington Park last year. She also qualified for the Dash For Cash Derby and Texas Classic Derby. Bred by Spencer Peterson, Lil Longmire was ridden by Jesus Rios Ayala and trained by Heath Taylor in this race. She earned $6,194 for her runner-up effort. Dean Frey’s Toxic Relationship, a half-sister to the 2021 AQHA World Champion Danjer, finished third. Imm Born To Fly completed the field.
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