TENA RENA WINS INAUGURAL CONNIE HALL AT LOS ALAMITOS

           Parsons Ranch’s Tena Rena finished powerfully from post number eight to score the first stakes victory of her career in the $18,000 Connie Hall Handicap on Saturday at Los Alamitos.

Ridden by Victor Salazar for trainer Paul Jones, Tena Rena was fourth during the early part of the 350-yard race before picking up speed during the final stages to outduel stakes winners Eye Live For Candy and Forever Dynasty. The win was Tena Rena’s fourth of her career, which has included a pair of solid allowance victories at Los Alamitos. The 4-year-old mare by FDD Dynasty and out of the Dominyum mare Connstantina boosted her resume with his victory, adding it to a record that also included facing the millionaire Party Politics when running in the Grade 2 Golden State Derby last year.

          “I’m proud of her,” Jones said. “I’ve always liked her. She’s been a hard runner. She got a really nice trip tonight. She was able to get our first stakes win for the year. I’m really happy for the Parsons. They put a lot into this business and this industry. They really love their horses. They do a lot of hard work raising them.”

          Jay and Char Parsons along with their family were presented with the Frank Vessels Sr. Memorial Award at the Pacific Coast Quarter Horse Racing Association Awards Banquet held on January 26. The award recognizes the Parsons Family lifelong contributions to the sport of Quarter Horse racing.

          Bred by the Parsons, Tena Rena earned $9,900 for the win to take her career earnings to $47,305. She’s won four of 12 starts and has finished in the money in seven of those outings.

          “We’ll probably keep her in the stakes program throughout the year at Los Al,” Jones added. “This track has a really nice program for fillies and mares, probably the best in the country. It’s nice to win the first Connie Hall Handicap. It’s an honor to win this race named after her.”

          Dunn Ranch’s Eye Live For Candy earned $4,050 for running second. A multiple stakes winner, the 5-year-old Wyoming bred by A Revenant was ridden by Armando Cervantes and trained by Monty Arrossa. Jeryl Hartley’s Forever Dynasty, winner of the 2023 Queen For Cash Handicap, earned $2,250 for running third. Juan Pablo Leon was aboard the Hes Relentless mare for trainer Sergio Morfin. The top three finishers were followed by Temple Court, Jessa Good Winner, Southern Seis, Jessica Cruz, Flash Of Sass, Miss Racy D Perry, and Zoom That Jess.

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