REYNOSO LOPEZ, MORFIN AMONG THOSE OFF TO FAST STARTS
Henry Reynoso Lopez, the overall leading rider at Los Alamitos Race Course in 2023, is off to a tremendous start so far this season at the Orange County oval. Reynoso Lopez has won with seven of his first 22 mounts and has finished in the money with 14 of them for an in-the-money percentage of 63.6. His season has been highlighted by victories in the track’s first two stakes races of 2025 – the Grade 1 Charger Bar Handicap aboard Parsons Family Limited Partnership’s 8-1 longshot Rockin With Energy and with the Brazilian mega star Miss Isao Jqm in the Dashingly Stakes. The two stakes events were held on Sunday, January 5.
The rider’s stakes winning exploits are part of his three wins on Quarter Horses this season, which have taken him to the top spot in the breed’s standings during the young season. Reynoso Lopez currently shares the top spot with Ruben Lozano, who was the meet’s leading rider here in 2021. Lozano has enjoyed success to begin the season as well, his three victories with Quarter Horses coming from only six mounts. His highlight win so far came aboard M & G Farms’ Terra Fina, a fine filly sired by One Famous Eagle that could be in line for a great sophomore campaign. Terra Fina has won three of her seven career starts and looked super with Lozano aboard on January 4.
Let’s look at some of the other racing personalities off to winning ways in 2025. In the Quarter Horse trainer standings, Eddie Willis is off to fast start at Los Alamitos this season. He’s won four races from 14 starters and is currently at the top of the breed’s leaderboard. Scott Willoughby, the meet’s leading trainer here in 2020, is right behind him with three victories. They’re the only trainers with three or more wins so far.
Willis, the American Quarter Horse Association trainer of the year in 2020, has one victory in a mixed-breed race here to give him five total wins on the meet. That adds up to him being tied with Sergio Morfin at the top of the overall trainer standings here.
Morfin’s five wins from 15 starters include two victories with Quarter Horses, two wins in Mixed-breed races, and one with a Thoroughbred. Enjoying success with a variety of breeds is nothing new for Morfin, as he was the leading trainer in mixed-breed races in 2024, while also saddling top Quarter Horses like Grade 2 derby winner Hes Chickless, Forever Dynasty, Fyrestorm, Princesa Rock and many others.
In addition to Willis and Morfin, two other conditioners have won at least four races since the start of the new campaign. They are Angela Aquino and Adan Farias. Aquino is synonymous with success in the distance ranks at Los Alamitos. She’s the defending champion Thoroughbred owner and trainer here. Farias, who was the leading Quarter Horse trainer in 2010, has a pair of Quarter Horse wins and a pair of Mixed-breed wins to start his campaign.
Farias’ main client is David Hinkins and he’s currently tied for most overall wins by an owner. Morfin, Ed Allred and Reliance Ranches also shared the top spot with three wins each.
With live racing being offered here on Saturday and Sunday nights, there will be plenty of movement in the Los Alamitos standings throughout the year. Yet, a fast start is a perfect way to build momentum for the year-long season.
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