SEVENTH WIN FOR RUFA RED KNOW COMES IN WINTER FINAL​   

     4 Hares Racing's Rufa Red Knot entered the running of the $40,000 1,000 Yard Filly and Mare Winter Stake with more victories than any other horse at the 1,000-yard distance at Los Alamitos this season. After the running of the Winter Stake, Rufa Red Knot returned one win and $21,200 richer after 4-year-old Florida-bred by Noble Bird won the Winter Stake convincingly by a length in a time of :52.716.

    Ridden by Erick Garcia and trained by Keith Craigmyle, Rufa Red Knot improved her 2023 record to seven wins from 12 starts. All seven of her wins this year have come at Los Alamitos. This was also her third win in a row and fourth from her last five starts here.      

     "It's been a good ride with her," Lance Hare said. "We've had the same group from day one, Keith, my daughter Rachel, and Erick. Last year, she was just coming back from surgery at this time. She was slow coming back. To be where we are right now after last year, we're really happy. Tonight, may be the first time that she switched her lead. I know my wife is really looking forward to having her at the ranch. We'll give her some time off to let her be a horse. Hopefully, she comes back refreshed and can have another great year like this.

    "It goes to the team that takes care of her," Hare added. "We had her at Keith's farm for four months last year. Keith's wife took care of her. It's just been really good. Everything just fell into place."

    Hare was not shy to give Craigmyle the highest of compliments.

   "If you want to tell me that there's somebody better than him out here, I would argue with you," Hare said. "I think he's the best horseman, maybe in all of Southern California. We don't get the champion horses, but he makes good with every horse we give him. A better horseman than Keith, I don't think there is one. I'm very happy with our relationship and now it's more of a friend relationship than a business relationship, which makes it even nicer. The Craigmyle name goes a long way, not just at this track, but all over the place. It's well-earned and well deserved."

     Jesus Uranga's Coruscation earned $8,800 for running second while Wendy Ouriel Racing's Gayle Evening finished third and earned $4,800. Square Tomatoes, Feather Inthe Wind, Broken Circle, Mango Moon, Met At The Dance, Sweet Sonny, and Two Twelve completed the field.

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