AMORE FOR A REASON REMAINS CALIFORNIA PERFECT,
WINS THE LOS ALAMITOS MAIDEN STAKES
L O S LLC and Super Champion, Inc’s Amore For A Reason improved her California record to a perfect three for three after winning the $115,000 Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes by a head on Sunday at Los Alamitos.
Bred by Silver Racing Farm LLC, Amore For A Reason (left) is a filly by Good Reason SA out of the Grade 1 stakes placed mare Amore La Blue. She began her racing career with a strong second place finish in a May 27th trial to the Ruidoso Futurity. After that outing, the California-bred filly was off for seven months before making her second career start in a maiden event on January 7 at Los Alamitos.
She passed her return to the track with flying colors, winning the maiden event by ¾ lengths with Jose Nicasio up for trainer Heath Taylor. Her next outing was a trial to the Los Alamitos Maiden Stakes, which she won by ¾ lengths while posting the second fastest qualifying time to the rich finale. In the 350-yard Maiden Stakes, the even money favorite Amore for A Reason was fourth during the early going before rolling at the midway point and then outdueling Dunn Ranch LLC’s Foosea to win in a time of :17.520. Amore For A Reason earned $48,300 for the win to take her career bankroll to $59,385.
“This filly wants to run 400, 440,” Taylor said. “The conditions for this race fit really well. (Foosea) was super game and I thought for 330 or 340 yards that maybe she wasn’t going to get there quite enough. She had a nice, wide path. She got away good enough and she’s a really big filly. She’s like 16.1 hands and really wants to run the distance down the track. We’re just really blessed that she was able to get there at 350.”
Taylor added that future plans for Amore For A Reason call for her to return to Ruidoso Downs and race in the Rainbow Oaks and All American Oaks for 3-year-old fillies.
“She got some confidence out here and she’s paid in the Rainbow and All American. Hopefully she comes for the fall campaign at Los Alamitos. We’ll probably freshen her up after this race and then point her to those 440 (Oaks) races at Ruidoso. We were going to supplement to the Oaks here, but by then the deadline had already passed because we had not even started her yet. She showed good talent last year. I didn’t have her as a 2-year-old, but she has the sixth fastest time to the Ruidoso Futurity in her day of trials, but they take five each day (for the final). She’s a really elegant filly.”
Carlos and Brenda Lujan of L O S LLC (right) were in the winner’s circle at Los Alamitos to enjoy the celebration of their filly’s victories. The Midland, Texas residents have campaigned some terrific horses over the years, including the Grade 1 Ruidoso Futurity winner Cyber Monday, a colt they own in partnership with Abelardo Gallegos.
“The owners are very supportive,” Taylor said. “They have horses in the Los Alamitos division and have horses at Remington Park with me. They have horses at Louisiana Downs with me and Sunland Park. They are very diverse. They have really nice quality, well-bred horses and really let you do your job. They buy nice horses and it’s nice when they come out to see the facility and see their horses. I’m sure they’ll have more horses here in the future.”
Brenda and Carlos Lujan started their own business in 2011 after taking a leap of faith on themselves. The couple pulled money out of their 401k to start their LOS’s Oilfield Services. From beginning with four employees, their company has grown into a crew of 100. Having fun at the race was something the Lujans enjoyed together. On their own or in partnerships, the couple has races stakes runners like Mystic Blues, Jesses Dinero and Walking On Katella. In partnership with Super Champion, they’ve raced AJ King Crown, who joined Amore For A Reason in this Maiden Stakes field.
Super Champion Inc. has also raced many top Quarter Horses including Muy Peligroso, who earned nearly $270,000 while winning the Southwest Juvenile Invitational Championship Stakes and the All American Juvenile.
Ridden by Armando Cervantes for trainer Monty Arrossa, Foosea earned $19,550 for his runner-up effort. The Foose gelding out of Tres Sea, he was razor sharp at the start before Amore For A Reason came flying in the final stages to procure the victory.
Barry Woodhouse’s Freddie earned $13,800 for running third for trainer Sergio Morfin. Juan Pablo Leon piloted the Favorite Cartel colt. Jesus Avila’s Relief Factor finished fourth and was followed by My Favorite Jess, Politically Extoled V, SM Jess Corona, AJ King Crown, Mambacita, and Lj Lucky 7.
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